News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Brighton Death
Case Number: 15-PCD-279
Other News Releases Related to Case 15-PCD-279
The Special Investigations Unit has closed an investigation into the death of a 65-year-old woman on County Road 30 in Brighton Township, after it was found the woman died of natural causes.
SIU investigators determined the following occurred on November 19, 2015:
- Around 9:30 p.m., an Ontario Provincial Police officer stopped a vehicle on County Road 30 between Old Wooler Road and Donaldson Road.
- The 65-year-old female driver advised the officer she was having trouble breathing.
- The officer immediately requested paramedics, who attended the scene and transported the woman to Trenton Memorial Hospital.
- She was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after midnight.
- A subsequent post-mortem examination determined the cause of death to be a ruptured atherosclerotic abdominal aortic aneurysm.
As the woman’s death was in no way related to the action or inaction of any police officer, 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