An official inquiry is scheduled for next week to investigate the death of an 88-year-old man who passed away following a fall down a set of stairs during a welfare check conducted by police in Mississauga around three years ago.
The inquest into the demise of John Brownlie is set for September 8, as announced by Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General. Dr. Jennifer M. Dmetrichuk, the regional supervising coroner for Toronto East Region, disclosed that Brownlie died on September 25, 2023, subsequent to the wellness check by Peel Regional Police officers on September 13 of that same year. Per the Coroners Act, an inquest into his death is obligatory.
The inquiry aims to scrutinize the circumstances surrounding Mr. Brownlie’s passing and may propose preventive measures to avert similar incidents in the future, according to the announcement. The proceedings are expected to span seven days and feature testimonies from approximately nine witnesses, with Bonnie Goldberg presiding over the inquiry and Julian Roy serving as the inquest counsel.
Moreover, in January 2024, the Special Investigations Unit of Ontario exonerated a Peel police officer of any misconduct in connection to Brownlie’s death. In a report, SIU director Joseph Martino stated that there were no grounds to suspect the officer of any criminal offense related to the tragedy. The officer was reportedly attempting to apprehend Brownlie under the Mental Health Act at the time of the incident.
The SIU clarified that the officer, part of the crisis outreach and support team, visited Brownlie’s residence in the vicinity of Dundas Street E. and Cawthra Road along with a crisis worker and a mental health nurse following a well-being assessment request around 1:30 p.m. on September 13. Brownlie, clad in only boxer shorts and slippers, engaged with the officer outside his home, leading to a confrontation that resulted in a fall down the stairs.
The struggle between the officer and Brownlie unfolded near the staircase inside the residence, with the officer attempting to prevent Brownlie from falling down the stairs leading to the basement. Despite warnings from the officer, Brownlie persisted, and the altercation culminated in the tragic fall. Despite the officer’s immediate provision of first aid, Brownlie succumbed to his injuries at the hospital almost two weeks later.
The upcoming inquest will be held via video conference to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding Brownlie’s untimely demise.