News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Drug Overdose in OPP Custody in Pembroke
Case Number: 23-PCI-313
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the drug overdose suffered by a 36-year-old man.
On August 6, 2023, officers arrested the man for drug trafficking and put him in a cell. The next morning while in custody, he lapsed into medical distress. Paramedics were called and he was taken to hospital and admitted. Hospital staff reportedly found fentanyl in the man’s underwear while he was being put into a hospital gown.
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