Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the death on Wednesday (January 31) of a 46-year-old Peterborough man who was wanted by police for possession of child pornography.
On Wednesday morning, Peterborough police had issued a public safety alert when a repeat child sexual offender fled from his home last Thursday (January 24) shortly after police conducted a search of his home.
Evidence recovered as a result of the search warrant led police to issue a warrant for the man’s arrest for possession of child pornography. Police publicly released the man’s name and photograph, stating he had a history of sexual assault and multiple convictions of sexual offences against children, and posed a risk to the public, specifically children. Police also provided a description of the man’s vehicle and plate number.
According to the SIU, on Wednesday at around 4:30 p.m., officers went to a home in the area of County Road 35 and Regional Road 2 in Otonabee-South Monaghan Township to arrest the man. After officers found the man in medical distress in the basement, he was transported by paramedics to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The SIU, which has assigned two investigators and one forensic investigator to the case, is asking 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 siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians.
