News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation of Man’s Death in Dryden
Case Number: 10-OCD-083
Other News Releases Related to Case 10-OCD-083
Mississauga (8 March, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge any officers of the Dryden Police Service (DPS) with a criminal offence in regards to the death of 25-year-old Dustin Cyler Douglas Rouillard in May of last year.
The SIU assigned five investigators and one forensic investigator to probe the circumstances of this incident. The Unit designated one DPS officer as a subject officer and interviewed seven witness officers and one special constable. Thirteen civilian witnesses were also interviewed.
The SIU investigation determined the following:
• On May 11, 2010, the DPS was contacted twice by the Dryden Regional Health Centre regarding the fact that Mr. Rouillard had eloped from the hospital.
• Mr. Rouillard had initially been admitted to the hospital that day due to his elevated levels of intoxication.
• On the first occasion, the subject officer and two others were involved with locating him and returning him to hospital.
• The DPS was again contacted shortly before midnight by the hospital and told that Mr. Rouillard had fled again.
• DPS officers located Mr. Rouillard in a residential backyard around midnight and arrested him for Trespass by Night.
• Mr. Rouillard was returned to hospital.
• On May 12, 2010 Mr. Rouillard was released by the attending physician. DPS officers took him to the police station and lodged him in cell.
• While in the cell, Mr. Rouillard began displaying signs of mental distress.
• At around 4:15 am, paramedics transported Mr. Rouillard to hospital where he was readmitted. Mr. Rouillard died shortly after his readmission.
• Based on the results of the autopsy and many months of extensive examinations, the post mortem report, received by the SIU on February 9, 2011, indicates that the cause of Mr. Rouillard’s death is unascertained. However, nothing in the post-mortem examination suggests misconduct while in police custody.
The Director stated, "In my view, the subject officer had the lawful authority to arrest and detain the decedent as a result of finding him committing the offence of Trespass by Night. Further, on the information received from the hospital’s physician, the subject officer had the authority to arrest Mr. Rouillard under ss. 31(4) of the Liquor Licence Act because he was a threat to the safety of others. When Mr. Rouillard was held in custody he started to exhibit bizarre behaviour leading to his readmission to hospital. There is no suggestion that the subject officer or indeed any other officer acted in an inappropriate manner toward the decedent. While his death in these circumstances is regrettable, no involved officers can be held criminally liable for Mr. Rouillard’s demise."
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