The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe two Ontario Provincial Police officers committed a criminal offence in connection with a 42-year-old man who lapsed into medical distress while in custody in May. The officers with overall responsibility for the care of prisoners during the man’s time in custody were identified as subject officials.
On May 24, 2024, police were called after the man was seen waving a gun on a public roadway in the area of Susan Street West and Centre Street North in Huntsville. The man was also found to be in possession of illicit substances. He was arrested and taken to the OPP detachment. At about 1:45 a.m. the following day, he was found in medical distress in the cell. The man was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a decreased level of consciousness attributable to the ingestion of benzodiazepines, cocaine and fentanyl.
Director Martino was satisfied that the subject officials comported themselves at all times with due care and regard for the man’s health and wellbeing. The evidence indicates police searched and removed all of the illicit substances in his possession prior to his placement in the detachment cell, and that his drug-induced condition was the result of consumption prior to his arrest.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):