News Release

Update: Fred Preston Pronounced Dead

Case Number: 10-PFD-034   

Mississauga (11 March, 2010) --- Fred Preston of Burk's Falls, Ont., who was involved in an interaction with police on March 8, 2010, in Huron East, was pronounced dead at the Victoria Hospital in London this evening.

On Monday, Mr. Preston, 70, was wounded during an interaction with two officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) that involved an exchange of gunfire. Mr. Preston was shot and taken to a London hospital where he remained in critical condition.

Investigators with the Special Investigatiosn Unit are appealing to anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-0748 or 1-800-787-8529.

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

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