News Release
SIU Terminates Thunder Bay Investigation
Case Number: 24-OCI-411
On May 20, 2024, a 35-year-old man notified the SIU that he had sustained a throat injury in a struggle with Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officers during his arrest in February 2020. The matter had initially been reported by the police service to the SIU, but based on the information at hand, the incident was deemed not to fall within the SIU’s jurisdiction. On the present occasion, however, an investigation was commenced in light of additional information.
On February 21, 2020, the man was arrested by TBPS and Ontario Provincial Police officers for drug-related offences. There appeared to have been a struggle of some sort in connection with the arrest, although the man seemed physically fine as he was being escorted to the police station. At the station, the man was strip-searched with negative results. While sitting in the booking room, the man lapsed into medical distress. He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was diagnosed and treated for a drug overdose. He had fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana in his system, and he defecated a quantity of drugs several days after his hospital admission. While in hospital, the man developed aspiration pneumonia and underwent a percutaneous tracheostomy.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, it appeared likely that the whole of the man’s health woes were the result of his drug consumption. At any rate, any attempt to tie his condition to his interaction with officers during his arrest or through his brief period in custody was speculative at best and provided no basis for SIU jurisdiction. Accordingly, 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
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Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES