News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Overdose of Woman in Gravenhurst
Case Number: 24-PCI-239
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a 37-year-old woman’s overdose in June in Gravenhurst.
In the evening of June 5, 2024, Ontario Provincial Police officers were outside of a residence in Gravenhurst, intending to arrest the woman for robbery. While officers were outside, the woman attempted suicide by injecting herself with cocaine and taking an overdose of lorazepam pills. Officers breached her door and arranged for medical aid. The woman was taken to hospital.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the woman’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned in connection with the woman’s overdose. The file has been closed.
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