News Release
SIU Investigates Death in Perth County
Case Number: 07-PCD-162
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-PCD-162
On August 14, 2007, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer responded to a domestic dispute call at a home on 49th Line in Logan Township. Three officers were driving up to the home when they heard a gunshot. As a result, OPP Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU) officers arrived and started to secure a perimeter around the home. At approximately 2:20 a.m., an officer found a man outside of the home with a fatal gunshot wound. His common-law spouse was found in a car outside of the home with no serious injuries. She was taken to Seaforth Community Hospital for observation.
A post mortem examination for the man is scheduled for tomorrow in London.
SIU investigators are probing what role, if any, the police played in the circumstances surrounding the man's death. Forensic identification technicians are continuing to process the scene and the investigation is ongoing.
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