KAWARTHA LAKES-The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU)has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against a Kawartha Lakes Police Service officer in relation to the death of an 89-year-old woman on May 15, 2016.
Kawartha Lakes Police Inspector Mark Mitchell released a statement on Friday saying “In addition to the comments of the SIU Director, the Kawartha Lakes Police would like to add that we are proud of the way that our officers conducted themselves on May 10th 2016 and the assistance they provided to the female motorist. Unfortunately, she did not recover from her medical condition. We extend our condolences to the family and we thank them for their support through this investigation process.”
On May 10th, 2016 at approximately 1 a.m., the woman was driving her motor vehicle on Angeline Street at the intersection of Highway 7 in the Town of Lindsay. The subject officer attempted to pull the woman over after allegedly observing erratic driving. The woman told police she had had a headache all day and had become lost after dropping off her fiend. The officer said she would escort the woman home and asked her to follow the police car. Police say at this point the woman crashed into the police car. During the course of the officers interaction with the woman, she began to vomit and was taken to hospital. Once at hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage and died five days later.
The subject officer did not agree to an interview with SIU investigators, as is her legal right, but provided her notes.
On May 31, 2016, the SIU asked to have a coroner review the medical records related to the woman hospitalization and death. The coroner was asked for an opinion regarding whether any delay in obtaining prompt medical attention for the Complainant would have contributed to her death. On June 14, 2016, the coroner assigned to review the matter, reported it was likely the woman’s brain hemorrhage was occurring earlier in the evening, when she complained of a severe headache. The Complainant became confused while driving and that was when the police became involved. The coroner advised the SIU, “In my view, there was nothing that could have been done to change the outcome.”
The SUI report goes on to state, “On all of the evidence, it is clear that the police, in their contact with the Complainant, were at all times professional, kind and helpful. The outcome for the Complainant was due to natural causes and in no way reflects on the treatment she received from police officers,” said Tony Loparco, Director SIU. “As such, there are no grounds to believe that there was any inappropriate conduct here from any police officer who came in contact with the Complainant and no basis for the laying of any criminal charges.”
The Special Investigations Unit investigates incidents involving police officers where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
The Unit’s jurisdiction covers more than 50 municipal, regional and provincial police services across Ontario.
