News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Overdose While in Custody of Durham Police
Case Number: 24-OCI-108
On March 5, 2024, a 57-year-old man was arrested by a Durham Regional Police Service officer at a grocery store in Oshawa. After doing a search of the man, he was transported to the police station. At the station, the officer made his way to the booking area to speak with the sergeant. When the officer returned to the cruiser, he observed the man with blue liquid coming from his mouth, and unresponsive. The man was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with multi-substance overdose. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s medical event.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES