TORONTO – The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has ruled that no charges will be laid against the Wellington County OPP in the death of 36-year-old Nathaniel Schofield, of Arthur, who died in hospital after being in police custody last summer.
On July 9, Schofield was arrested by the OPP in relation to a domestic violence incident in the area of Smith Street and Frederick Street East in Arthur. He was transported first to the OPP detachment in Teviotdale, then to the Rockwood OPP to await a bail hearing.
On July 10, Schofield died in hospital after being found in medical distress in a police cell at the Rockwood OPP Detachment earlier that day.
The SIU says Schofield had admitted to police that prior to coming into police custody, he had consumed crack cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamines.
SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the police sergeant in command of the Rockwood detachment at the time committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s death.
The investigation is now concluded.
