News Release
SIU Terminates Port Hope Death Investigation
Case Number: 18-OOD-184
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-OOD-184
The Acting Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated the investigation into the June 2018 death of a 48-year-old man in Port Hope.
At approximately 11:40 p.m. on June 17, 2018, two Port Hope Police Service officers were dispatched to a medical assistance call at a residence in the County Road 2 and Marsh Road area. Upon arrival, the officers entered the home and located a woman performing CPR on an unconscious man. The woman informed the officers that she had administered naloxone to the man. One of the officers administered Narcan nasal spray, and CPR was commenced. When paramedics arrived, they took over resuscitation attempts. The man was transported to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Acting Director Martino said, “Neither of the involved officers caused or contributed to the man’s death. Accordingly, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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