News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Man After OPP Police Dog Bite in Midland

Case Number: 23-POD-460   

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Mississauga, ON (7 November, 2023) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 45-year-old man in Midland. The SIU launched an investigation after the death was reported by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on November 6, 2023.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • On October 13, 2023, OPP officers from the South Georgian Bay detachment responded to a gun-related call involving two men in Midland. One man fled and an OPP police service dog located and bit the man. The man was arrested and taken into custody.
  • On November 5, 2023, the man died in hospital.
Three investigators have been assigned to the case. A post-mortem is scheduled for tomorrow (November 8, 2023). 

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

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