News Release

SIU Investigates Death in Ottawa

Case Number: 08-OCD-126   

TORONTO (30 June, 2008) --- The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a 48-year-old woman this morning in Ottawa.

At approximately 6:00 a.m., officers from the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) responded to a call from an apartment building on Richmond Rd. Shortly after officers arrived at the building, the woman fell to her death from the 7th floor.

The SIU has assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman's death. Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-1886 or 1-800-787-8529 extension 1886.

No further information is available at this time.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES