News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation in Sarnia
Case Number: 07-OCI-052
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-OCI-052
SIU Updates Sarnia Investigation
SIU Investigates Man's Injury in Sarnia
The SIU investigation revealed that on March 16, at approximately 5:45 p.m., SPS officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at an apartment at 275 Finch Drive in Sarnia. The police had information that Mr. Lauzon was involved in the dispute and in apparent contravention of a court order by being at the apartment. There were also several outstanding warrants for Mr. Lauzon's arrest.
Officers entered the apartment and found Mr. Lauzon and two women inside. Mr. Lauzon was arrested and one of the officers discharged a TASER three times to subdue him. As part of the SPS's protocol, Emergency Medical Services personnel attended to remove the TASER darts from Mr. Lauzon.
Mr. Lauzon was placed in a police cruiser to be taken to the station when an officer became aware that Mr. Lauzon might have overdosed on some prescription medicine. Police immediately transported Mr. Lauzon, who was alert and responsive, to Sarnia General Hospital to be assessed.
Shortly after his initial assessment, Mr. Lauzon's condition deteriorated. On March 17, the SIU was notified that Mr. Lauzon was unconscious and in critical condition. As a result, six SIU investigators were assigned to probe the nature and extent of police involvement in this incident.
By March 18, Mr. Lauzon's condition had improved. He has since made a full recovery.
Director Cornish stated that the SIU became involved due to the fact that Mr. Lauzon went into medical distress after he was tasered. The investigation ended once investigators secured direct evidence that Mr. Lauzon's medical condition was brought on by his ingestion of an overdose of prescription medication. The Director stated, "None of the officers involved in this incident did anything that caused or contributed to the serious medical condition that Mr. Lauzon suffered on March 16, 2007."
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