News Release
Ottawa Man Succumbs to Injuries
Case Number: 07-OCI-004
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-OCI-004
Mr. Barber was seriously injured on January 3, 2007, during an incident involving members of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). Mr. Barber was inside a taxi cab in the area of Merivale Road and Trenton Avenue. OPS officers were speaking with him when, a short time later, they saw he was suffering from a serious eye injury. He was transported to hospital where he was in critical condition until his death.
A post mortem examination is scheduled for tomorrow.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is continuing to probe the circumstances surrounding Mr. Barber¡¯s death to determine the nature and extent of police involvement. Investigators are appealing to anyone who witnessed this incident on January 3, 2007, or who has any information to contact the SIU at 416-622-1935 or 1-800-787-8529 x1935.
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