Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a 57-year-old man who fled from Kawartha Lakes police officers and entered the Scugog River in Lindsay early Friday morning (October 23).
According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Kawartha Lakes Police Service officers were investigating a break and enter at around 4:40 a.m. in the area of York Street when they located a male suspect.
The man fled from officers on foot, with police pursuing him to the area of the Lindsay Street Bridge, where he entered the water.
The SIU said officers attempted to assist the man after he entered the water, before he went under and failed to resurface.
Kawartha Lakes Police Service, Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service, and emergency medical services responded to the scene and a search was conducted.
The man’s body was recovered Friday morning and he was pronounced dead in hospital, according to the SIU.
Kawartha Lakes police, who said the scene was secured following the recovery, will not provide further information about the incident because the SIU has invoked its mandate to investigate.
The provincial agency investigates incidents involving police officers that may have resulted in death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person, or allegations of sexual assault.
The SIU has assigned two investigators and one forensic investigator to the case.
The SIU is asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who has video or photographs that may assist investigators to call the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or submit information online at siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php, referring to case number 26-OCD-519.
