News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Woman After Arrest in Barrie

Case Number: 24-PCD-210   

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Mississauga, ON (18 May, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 28-year-old woman this morning.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • On the night of Thursday, May 16, Barrie Police Service officers arrested the woman in the area of 49 Colter Street for outstanding warrants. She was taken to the station and held in a cell.
  • The following night, on Friday, May 17, Ontario Provincial Police special constables transported the woman from the Barrie Police Service station to Central North Correction Centre.
  • The woman was found unresponsive in the vehicle and transported to hospital in Midland.
  • The woman was pronounced deceased this morning (May 18) in hospital.
Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. The post-mortem is scheduled for May 20.

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