News Release

News Release

Police Were Quick to Detect Woman’s Deteriorating Condition While in Middlesex OPP Cell; SIU Terminates Investigation

Case Number: 24-PCI-125   

Mississauga, ON (17 September, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a 34-year-old woman’s time at the Ontario Provincial Police Middlesex detachment in March.

In the morning of March 19, 2024, the woman, while a prisoner in OPP cells at the Middlesex Detachment, lapsed into medical distress. Paramedics were summoned and the woman was taken to hospital where she was treated for pneumonia. 

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the woman’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. A review of the prisoner log record suggests the woman was checked regularly and that her deteriorating condition was quickly detected by police. On this record, it was plain that the woman’s police custodians did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal sanction in connection with her medical condition. As such, there being patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned, the file has been closed.  

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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES