News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Conduct of OPP Huron County Officers in Relation to Man’s Self-Inflicted Death in Goderich
Case Number: 23-PCD-236
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-PCD-236
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 death of a 48-year-old man in June. As the officers were present in the vicinity of the shooting when it occurred, the SIU investigated.
On June 22, 2023, OPP officers were called to a motel to check on the wellbeing of the man. The officers knocked on the door of his room when moments later, they heard a single gunshot. They breached the door and provided medical attention to the man until paramedics arrived. In the final analysis, Director Martino found that while the officers’ presence and knock on the door may have precipitated his final act, it is apparent that none of the subject officials transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law in their brief engagement with him.
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