London police cleared of wrongdoing in fatal drug overdose of woman

A Special Investigations Unit logo is seen on a truck in Mississauga, Ont., on Thursday, April 24, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey

The London Police Service has been cleared of wrongdoing in the fatal overdose of a woman.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said on March 5, police were called to a McDonald’s on Fanshawe Park Road East with a report of a woman in distress.

It said the woman was intoxicated and refused medical attention, but accepted the officers’ offer to drive her home in the area of Fanshawe Park Road West and Wonderland Road North. She was found dead in the morning.

The SIU said the pathologist attributed the woman’s death to multiple drug toxicity, including fluorofentanyl, fentanyl, and ethanol.

Director Joseph Martino said he was unable to reasonable conclude the officers’ decision to drive the woman home was reckless.

“Although the woman was scattered, emotionally distraught, and seemingly intoxicated, she was able to communicate her plans for the following day as far as her eviction was concerned, had accepted and consumed food and, though unsteady on her feet, had managed to get by on her own power,” said the SIU.

“At no time did she express any thoughts of self-harm.”