SIU Discontinues Ottawa Death Investigation
Case Number:
26-OOD-043
Mississauga, ON (25 May, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the death of a 24-year-old man in January in Ottawa.
On the evening of January 23, 2026, the man drove a Dodge Caravan southbound on Bank Street. His blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit. Approximately five seconds before the collision, his vehicle was travelling at about 170 km/h on Bank Street, approaching Morningside Avenue in a 60 km/h zone. The man lost control of the Caravan. South of Morningside Avenue, the vehicle crossed into the northbound lane and shoulder before entering the snow-covered east-side ditch. The man was ejected from the vehicle and suffered catastrophic injuries that resulted in his death. The time was about 8:20 p.m.
At about 9:43 p.m., a passing motorist stopped at the collision and subsequently called 911. Officers were dispatched to the scene at about 10:13 p.m. After searching the vehicle and the surrounding area without locating anyone, they left the scene at about 11 p.m.
The following morning, after receiving a call from the man’s wife reporting that her husband had not returned home from work, the police service dispatched an officer to the collision scene. Upon arrival, the officer located the man’s body partially buried in the snow-covered ditch several metres from the Caravan.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including review of video footage that captured the incident in part and the results of the postmortem examination, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. At autopsy, the pathologist attributed the man’s death to multiple blunt force injuries, and explained that given the nature of those injuries, the man would have been deceased by the time the first officers arrived at the scene following the collision. On this record, there being no reason to believe that any officer caused or contributed to the man’s death, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the incident.
That said, Director Martino identified what appeared to be evidence of misconduct by the officers who initially attended the scene in connection with their investigation of the collision, in contravention of section 19 of the Police Code of Conduct. Director Martino will be referring the matter to the Ottawa Police Service Chief of Police and, further to section 35.1 of the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019, to the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency.
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES
