Manslaughter charge laid in overdose death: St. Thomas police

A St. Thomas Police cruiser, pictured October 9, 2024 (Bailey Shakyaver/CTV News London)

A 46-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly supplying drugs that led to the death of a woman last month in St. Thomas.

According to a news release, on May 30 emergency services responded to an address in downtown St. Thomas after a 28-year-old woman was found unresponsive. She was transported to hospital, where she later died.

Members of the Criminal Investigations Branch investigated the circumstances surrounding her death and later determined a 46-year-old man to be the individual who allegedly supplied the drugs that caused the woman’s death.

On June 8 members of the St. Thomas Police Service arrested James Friesen in Aylmer.

The accused has since been charged with the following offences:

• Manslaughter
• Trafficking a schedule I substance

Following a court appearance, he was remanded into custody.