News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Death of Man in Ottawa
Case Number: 13-OCD-054
Mississauga (22 February, 2013) --- Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) preliminary enquiries into the death of a 39-year-old man in Ottawa earlier this week, SIU Director Ian Scott has terminated the investigation. The incident, involving officers with the Ottawa Police Service, occurred on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.
The SIU investigation determined that at 10:20 p.m. on February 19, a 39-year-old man called 911 stating that he had killed his father, and was going to kill himself with the firearm he had next to him. The man put the phone down, but left the line open. Three minutes later, a shot was heard through the phone. Police officers were dispatched to the residence on Pierce Road and contained the scene. A robot, which was deployed, entered the home and located the bodies of two men – those being the 911 caller and his father.
There is no evidence that the officers caused or contributed in any way to the death of either man. Given the Unit’s mandate, which is limited to serious injuries and deaths that may have resulted from criminal offences committed by police officers, there is nothing further to investigate. Accordingly, the SIU investigation has been terminated.
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