Ontario's police watchdog has concluded its investigation of two Barrie Police officer after a man had a medical episode while in custody in August, closing the file with no criminal charges laid.
The Special Investigations Unit concluded there were no reasonable grounds to believe the subject officials committed a criminal offence in connection with the 31-year-old male detainee’s overdose, which occurred while he was in a holding cell.
The incident began in the early morning hours of August 14, 2025, when the man arrived at the Barrie police station to turn himself in on outstanding warrants. According to video and witness evidence reviewed by the SIU, he appeared distraught, unsteady on his feet, and was seen repeatedly handling items from his bag and putting his hand to his mouth.
When approached by officers, he admitted he had ingested pills, later determined to be a mix of crack cocaine and other drugs, and was arrested without incident.
After booking, officers placed him in an Acute Detainee Cell and later moved him to a biometric sensor cell designed for high-risk prisoners, allowing staff to monitor his vital signs. Special constables conducted regular checks throughout the night and morning, escorting him for fingerprints and attempting to bring him to duty counsel and bail court—both of which he refused, according to the SIU's report.
The police watchdog said the man was difficult to rouse, but he still opened his eyes and made sounds when prompted at 12:40 and 1:17 p.m. Officers continued monitoring him, with no indication from the biometric system suggesting a medical emergency.
It wasn’t until shortly after 5:00 p.m., when staff were unable to wake him during repeated checks, that EMS was called. Paramedics transported him to RVH, where he was placed in an overdose protocol and diagnosed with polypharmacy toxicity.
The SIU found that officers and special constables responded reasonably at every stage, conducting frequent checks, following policy, and taking appropriate steps once the man became fully unresponsive.
"With respect to the care the Complainant received while in police cells, I am satisfied that his custodians comported themselves with due care and regard for his well-being," SIU director Joseph Martino said in his written decision.
"I am unable to reasonably conclude that the care the Complainant received departed markedly from a reasonable standard, much less that it constituted a marked and substantial departure."
