SIU clears Waterloo Regional Police in death of 19-year-old man

The logo of the Ontario Special Investigations Unit is pictured in Toronto on Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared Waterloo Regional Police officers in connection with the death of a 19-year-old man in November.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said officers were called to a Waterloo home on the evening of Nov. 27 after residents reported a guest had taken a knife from the kitchen.

According to the SIU, when officers arrived, they learned the man had injured himself. Police located him inside the home and took him into custody before paramedics arrived to provide medical assistance.

The SIU said the man soon went into medical distress at the scene. He was transported to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

In a report released following the investigation, SIU Director Joseph Martino said there were no reasonable grounds to believe any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death.