SIU Closes Investigation Into Peel Region Custody Death
(firmenpresse) - MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 12/15/11 -- The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has reviewed the facts around the July 2011 custody death of 53-year-old Keith Prescod. Ian Scott, the Director of the SIU, has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe three Peel Regional Police officers committed a criminal offence in this case.
The SIU assigned six investigators and three forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident. All of the subject officers refused to provide notes or a statement to the SIU, as is their legal right. Seven witness officers and twenty-two civilian witnesses were interviewed. The scene was examined, photographed and videotaped, and the area was canvassed for any video recording equipment.
The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on July 24:
Director Scott said, "A forensic autopsy report was received by the SIU on December 6, 2011. The forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy considered and rejected the hypothesis that positional or restraint asphyxia could have been the cause of death. She further noted that there were multiple minor blunt force injuries on the body, but none of them caused his death. Taking into consideration all aspects of the post-mortem examination, the pathologist concluded that the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia in the presence of hypertensive heart disease, cocaine intoxication and physical exertion or struggle. In my view, the results from the post-mortem examination are dispositive of the criminal legal issues with respect to this incident. On the basis of that examination, it would appear that Mr. Prescod's death was the result of a pre-existing medical condition exacerbated by the ingestion of cocaine and physical exertion. I note however that the legal cause and manner of death will later be determined by a jury at a mandatory inquest.
"The officers had the lawful authority to restrain Mr. Prescod given his bizarre and assaultive behaviour. Accordingly, the three subject officers were not responsible for the cause of death in any material sense, and I cannot form the requisite grounds to believe that either collectively or individually they committed a criminal offence in relation to Mr. Prescod's demise."
The SIU is an arm's length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
Contacts:
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES
Monica Hudon
416-622-2342 or/ou 1-800-787-8529
Themen in dieser Pressemitteilung:
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 15.12.2011 - 09:01 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 1066462
Anzahl Zeichen: 0
contact information:
Contact person:
Town:
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO
Phone:
Kategorie:
Government & Administration
Anmerkungen:
Diese Pressemitteilung wurde bisher 63 mal aufgerufen.
Die Pressemitteilung mit dem Titel:
"SIU Closes Investigation Into Peel Region Custody Death
"
steht unter der journalistisch-redaktionellen Verantwortung von
Special Investigations Unit (SIU) (Nachricht senden)
Beachten Sie bitte die weiteren Informationen zum Haftungsauschluß (gemäß TMG - TeleMedianGesetz) und dem Datenschutz (gemäß der DSGVO).
