News Release
SIU Concludes Tillsonburg Investigation
Case Number: 07-PCD-060
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-PCD-060
The SIU investigation determined that on April 3, 2007, at approximately 4:00 p.m., two OPP officers went to a woman's home at 70 Devonshire Avenue to arrest her on several outstanding charges. The officers knocked on the apartment door and stood in the hallway while they spoke with the woman's common law spouse. He told the officers that his wife refused to speak with the officers and closed the apartment door.
One officer remained outside the apartment in the hallway while the second officer returned to the police station to obtain a warrant to enter the apartment and affect the arrest. About ten minutes after the officers' arrival, the husband opened the apartment door again and told the officer standing outside that the woman had fallen from the balcony to the ground.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., paramedics arrived and removed the woman from the scene. She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Director Cornish concluded from independent and confirmed evidence that the officers did not enter the apartment or have any direct physical contact with the woman that afternoon. He said, "The woman fell to the ground in an apparent attempt to lower herself down to the balcony below. I do not believe that the actions of the involved officer caused this woman's unfortunate death."
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