Home / Crime and Justice / Police Cleared in Woman's Overdose Death
Police Cleared in Woman's Overdose Death
6 Jul
Summary
- Police responded to a distressed woman reporting sexual assault.
- Watchdog found no grounds for criminal charges against officers.
- Woman's death was later attributed to drug toxicity.
Two London, Ontario police officers have been cleared by the province's police watchdog in the death of a 32-year-old woman, which occurred in March and was later attributed to drug overdose. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officers committed a criminal offense.
Police were called to a McDonald's on March 5 by a report of a distressed woman claiming sexual assault. Officers found the woman confused and slurring her speech. She stated she did not use drugs but had consumed alcohol. Officers drove her home, and she entered her apartment unassisted.
Security footage later showed the woman staggering and returning to her building multiple times. She was found deceased in her apartment around 10 a.m. the same day by a relative and sheriff. The SIU director concluded that while the woman was distressed and appeared intoxicated, the officers' decision to drive her home was not reckless, as she was able to communicate and manage independently.
The woman's death was officially determined to be caused by multiple drug toxicity, including fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and ethanol. The SIU found no want of care by the officers that was egregious enough to warrant criminal sanctions.
