News Release

SIU Investigating Death of Man who had Been Lodged in Police Cell in Rockwood

Case Number: 24-PCD-298   

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Mississauga, ON (10 July, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 36-year-old man this morning.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 9, 2024, the man was arrested in Arthur by Ontario Provincial Police officers and lodged in police cells at the North Wellington Operations Centre in Teviotdale before being transferred to the South Wellington Operations Centre in Rockwood that same night.
  • In the morning of July 10, 2024, the man was observed to be in medical distress. First Aid was administered, and Emergency Medical Services transported the man to a hospital in Guelph. 
  • At 11:20 a.m., the man was pronounced deceased.

Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. The post-mortem is scheduled for Friday.

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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES