The Special Investigations Unit has found no reasonable grounds to believe a Sault Ste. Marie Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 30-year-old man who died of a self-inflicted knife wound during a January 2021 incident.
Officers were dispatched to 275 Albert Street East — an apartment building also known as Campbell Place — the evening of Jan. 23, 2021 following a call to police from the building manager reporting an unwanted male in the building lobby.
The man, who had refused to leave the apartment building, was seen placing himself in front of buses on Albert Street at different points prior to police arriving on scene.
Officers encountered the man inside the vestibule of the apartment building.
“The complainant explained that he was making his way to Pauline’s Place – a provider of emergency and short-term housing. He held a cell phone in his left hand, and kept his right hand inside his coat pocket. Asked to show his right hand, the complainant declined and explained that his right arm was broken,” reads an excerpt of the report. “The complainant refused to leave the vestibule with the officers, and questioned whether they were in fact police officers. “After approximately ten minutes of conversation, the blade of a knife became apparent inside the left front pocket of the complainant’s coat. By this time, the officers had been advised via their dispatch that the Complainant was subject to a probation order term that he refrain from possessing knives.”
The man didn’t surrender when informed he was under arrest.
“Efforts continued to persuade the complainant to disarm himself and show his right hand. He continued to refuse,” said the report.
Three officers deployed their conductive energy weapons.
“As the complainant fell to the ground, his right hand came out of his pocket holding a knife, which he used to cut across the front of his neck,” said the report. “Officers moved in to physically engage the complainant. The complainant struggled against the officers as they tried to handcuff him and treat his injuries.”
Officers took control of the man and rendered first-aid while waiting for the arrival of paramedics at the scene. The man was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Special Investigations Unit Director Joseph Martino concluded that no officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s self-inflicted knife wound and death.
The file is now closed.