News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Overdose in Orangeville

Case Number: 26-PCI-172   

Mississauga, ON (7 August, 2026) ---
In the afternoon of April 9, 2026, a woman reported to police that her husband had struck her vehicle with a baseball bat as she fled their residence, and said that he had indicated he would drink himself to death. OPP officers responded to the home in Orangeville and spoke to the 40-year-old man. The man assured officers he had no intention of harming himself. After being told he would be arrested for assaulting his wife, he chose to surrender later once a warrant was obtained. Once the warrant was obtained, the man was transported to the detachment. Asked if he had consumed any substances, the man said he had ingested pain killers. The man was lodged in a cell. When the man began to vomit, he admitted having consumed windshield washer fluid. The man was transported to a health care facility and treated for overdose. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s overdose.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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