News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Self-Inflicted Death in Port McNicoll
Case Number: 23-PCD-219
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-PCD-219
SIU Investigating Man’s Death After Police Interaction in Tay Township
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe three Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the self-inflicted death of a 55-year-old man. As officers were present and engaging with the man at the time, the SIU was notified and investigated.
On June 10, 2023, the man contacted police to report he was suicidal and had a firearm in his vehicle at a rest stop area off Highway 12. Officers, including those trained in crisis negotiations, conversed with the man over several hours, and officers unsuccessfully attempted to use a conducted energy weapon and Anti-riot Weapon ENfield to incapacitate him. The man shot himself and was taken to hospital where he died.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES