News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Death of Man After Police Dog Bite in Midland
Case Number: 23-POD-460
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-POD-460
SIU Investigating Death of Man After OPP Police Dog Bite in Midland
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 death of a 45-year-old man last November.
The SIU was notified of the death and the possibility it may have been connected to a police dog bite during an arrest in October 2023.
On October 13, 2023, officers attempted to arrest the man after he brandished an apparent firearm at another male. A police service dog was deployed ahead of a police entry into the apartment. The dog bit and held the man, allowing him to be taken into custody by officers.
Director Martino noted that police gave the man ample opportunity to surrender peacefully and only sent in the dog when attempted negotiations over more than five hours proved futile. Director Martino said it remained unclear whether and to what extent the police dog bite, and the resulting infection that set in, were causally related to the man’s death on November 5, 2023. While the cause of death is not yet known, he was satisfied that the dog’s deployment constituted reasonably necessary force.
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