Man dies in cell at area police station, SIU investigating

[Michael Jack]

A 65-year-old man arrested and held at the Collingwood OPP station yesterday died while in custody, prompting the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to invoke its mandate.

According to the SIU, Ontario Provincial Police officers stopped a vehicle at 5 p.m. on May 1 and arrested two men, taking both to the station on Ontario Street.

A news release from Collingwood OPP says officers arrested the man for breaching a conditional sentence order.

At 6:30 p.m. someone noticed one of the men in a cell was unresponsive.

Officers on site performed first aid and the man was taken to hospital by paramedics, where he was pronounced dead.

The SIU's mandate is invoked whenever a person dies or sustains injury while in police custody or during interaction with police. The unit is independent from OPP and other police services.

A news release from the SIU states there are three investigators and one forensic investigator assigned to the Collingwood case and a post-mortem is scheduled for tomorrow.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online.

https://www.midlandtoday.ca/police-beat ... g-10605380

https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/police- ... g-10604792

https://www.innisfiltoday.ca/police-bea ... g-10604998