News Release
Officers Not Responsible for Woman’s Injuries; SIU Discontinues Middlesex County Investigation
Case Number: 25-POI-321
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries suffered by a 40-year-old woman in August in Middlesex County.
On August 20, 2025, the woman was experiencing a mental health crisis, at which time she inflicted a stab wound to her abdomen. Following the self-inflicted injury, she managed to contact emergency services and seek help. Ontario Provincial Police officers were dispatched to her residence in Lucan-Biddulph, Middlesex County. The first officer to arrive located the woman standing outside her residence, holding a knife. He attempted to interact with her, but she fled the area to a nearby cornfield. Upon being located, she was transported to hospital where she underwent surgery for deep stab wounds.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of video and audio evidence that captured the incident in part, Deputy Director O’Brien was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. Police were not responsible for the injuries sustained by the woman. Rather, their actions contributed to the preservation of her continued well-being. The file has been closed.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES