THUNDER BAY — City police have been cleared of any criminal offence in the death of a 39-year-old.
The man had a medical emergency while in police custody and was pronounced dead at the hospital on May 28, 2024. The SIU (Special Investigations Unit) then invoked their mandate to investigate the incident.
According to the SIU's report, the man was initially apprehended on physician orders under the Mental Health Act and transported to the hospital. He had several outstanding arrest warrants and was taken to Thunder Bay police headquarters following his discharge from the hospital at 6 p.m. on May 27.
He was found in a cell without vital signs shortly after 4 a.m.
Officers performed CPR, administered Naloxone and provided other life-saving measures until paramedics arrived, according to the report. The 39-year-old man was transported to the regional hospital, where he was put on life support.
During the SIU investigation, it found no reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of the 39-year-old man.
The SIU has closed the investigation.
