The director of the SIU says OPP officers did not not contribute to the death of a 32-year-old woman who drowned in the waters of Lake Huron on November 1 of this year.
In a release provided by the SIU, the investigation found that the following events took place that evening:
- Sometime between 4:30pm and 5pm, the deceased woman left a nearby family cottage and walked alone to the beach at the foot of Pavilion Rd. in Bluewater
- After an hour, when the woman had not returned to the cottage, family members went in search of the woman
- Not long after that, the woman could be seen about 100-150 ft from shore
- The family called 911
- When police arrived, the woman in the water was heard yelling
- A family member and the subject officer entered the water arm in arm but were unable to locate the woman as the waves were breaking over their heads
- Approximately one hour later, firefighters and the Coast Guard (utilizing a search and rescue helicopter) located the woman’s body and brought her to shore
“It is clear that the responding officer waded into the lake in full uniform in a well-intentioned but unsuccessful attempt to rescue the woman," says SIU Director Tony Loparco in a news release. “I find no action or inaction on the part of the police in any way contributed to the death of the woman.”
Neither the SIU or police have released names.
