Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the death of a 28-year-old man on Monday (May 25) after he experienced medical distress while in the custody of the Northumberland detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
According to a media release from Northumberland OPP and a preliminary report from the SIU, officers with Northumberland OPP went to an address in Cramahe Township just before 7 p.m. on Sunday to do a welfare check on a man at the request of a family member.
After they arrived, the officers observed the man had facial injuries. When they learned the man was wanted on a fail-to-comply warrant, officers arrested him.
Due to the man’s facial injuries, officers contacted emergency medical services, who transported the man to a local hospital.
The man was medically cleared and released back into the custody of police, who transported him to a holding cell at the OPP Northumberland Detachment.
On Monday morning, the man went into medical distress. Paramedics transported him by ambulance back to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Following the incident, the OPP notified the SIU, which invoked its mandate. The SIU has assigned three investigators and one forensic investigator to the case.
Anyone who may have information about the investigation, including video or photos, is asked to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php
The SIU 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.
