The province's police watchdog has found a Lambton OPP officer "acted responsibly" when he gave a ride home to an intoxicated man who later died of a drug overdose.
The Special Investigations Unit launched an investigation after a 52-year-old man died in Grand Bend in the early morning hours of July 26, 2015. The man had been taken home by the officer after being found intoxicated, but coherent, sitting on a bench near Gables Bar on Main St. in Grand Bend.
The SIU says the officer tried to get a taxi to take the man home, but when he couldn't find one, took the man home in his cruiser. The man was left in the care of his mother. Around 4:30am, the man's mother found him without vital signs and called for an ambulance.
A post-mortem determined the man died of "multidrug toxicity."
“I am satisfied that the subject officer conducted himself with due care and regard for the health and safety of the man at all times," says SIU Director Tony Loparco. "Concerned with the man’s intoxicated condition, the officer took it upon himself to ensure the man made it home safely by escorting him in his cruiser. Once there, the officer left the man in the care of his mother before leaving to rejoin his partner."
Loparco says he is unable to find fault with any aspect of the officer's decision making.
"I am satisfied that the officer acted responsibly throughout in the discharge of his duty to protect and preserve life, and that there are therefore no grounds for proceeding with charges in this case,” says Loparco.