‘Very tragic incident’: Barrie police chief speaks out on Olando Brown investigation
Barrie police are fully co-operating with an Special Investigations Unit investigation into the death of 32-year-old Olando Brown, Chief Kimberley Greenwood said Tuesday afternoon.
In a brief statement given to a handful of local reporters June 26, Greenwood said the force is required by law to stay mum on the “events and circumstances” that lead to the death of Brown on June 22.
“This was a very tragic incident, one which touches family, friends and our whole community,” she said. “I recognize this is a very tragic incident that is difficult for our community. But legislation prevents the Barrie Police Service from speaking (about) this incident.”
Brown was arrested and arrested Friday around 2:30 p.m. Shortly after arriving at the police station, he went into medical distress. Officers provided first aid and contacted County of Simcoe paramedics.
Those paramedics took Brown to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Greenwood said she has the “utmost trust and confidence” the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) will conduct a “thorough, timely and complete investigation”.
“Barrie Police is committed to our community and we will continue to deliver service excellence,” she said.
Greenwood directed all inquiries to the SIU before exiting the room.
A video taken by a bystander and posted on YouTube shows two officers grabbing Brown and telling him to stop resisting while they force him to the ground. The officers used “on body” Taser shots to subdue Brown. A third officer also joins in to hold him down.
The arrest took place in downtown Barrie, near the Five Points intersection.
Three SIU and two forensic investigators are assigned to the case. Three subject officers — the Barrie police officers involved in the arrest — and one witness officer have been designated.
In an interview with Simcoe.com June 24, Brown’s friend and ex-spouse Donna Dubois said she is convinced the officers used the Tasers too much, which she believes led to Brown going into cardiac arrest.
The charges that led to Brown’s arrest were not released but Dubois said they were related to a “minor domestic” incident with his girlfriend when Brown grabbed her phone.
Dubois said Brown came to Canada from Jamaica with his grandmother 18 years ago when he was 14, “to try to find a better life”.
In a social media post Tuesday evening, Mayor Jeff Lehman admitted the lack of information surrounding the case is “frustrating”. But he also stressed the need for patience.
“The sudden death of Mr. Brown is a tragedy, for everyone involved, and most especially a family now grieving their loss,” Lehman, who sits on the police services board, said. “I understand the concerns in the community. However, the SIU must be allowed to conduct their investigation into what transpired. With the SIU investigation underway, it means I can’t comment further.”
— With files from Rick Vanderlinde