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Chatham

Police custody death under SIU investigation

Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a 53-year-old Chatham man who died while in police custody.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said in a statement on Thursday that the man died in the hospital Wednesday night, a week after suffering serious injuries September 8, 2021. The SIU said Chatham-Kent police officers were called to a convenience store on Charing Cross Road in Chatham last week after a complaint of an unwanted man.

Investigators said the man was arrested and taken to the police station but had to go to the hospital in Chatham because he was in distress.

Two SIU investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. It is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police officers that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

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