UPDATE: Tim Mitchell Remains in Medically Induced Coma, SIU Investigation Ongoing

Tim Mitchell remains in a medically induced coma in the intensive care unit at Sault Area Hospital. Tim’s daughter, Amy Campbell, reports that there have been some small changes and new concerns with her Dad’s situation.

“We don’t have all the answers at the moment,” shared Amy.

Amy, five months pregnant with a 3 year old, a 1 year old and away from home, disclosed that the situation has been an exhausting one. In the way of support, Amy requests prayer.

“I kindly ask for continued prayers for my Dad. He needs the prayers and positive energy now as much as he did at the beginning of this living nightmare.”

Amy stated that Tim’s shackles have been removed.

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Tim Mitchell was arrested on March 26^th, 2016 when his 14 year old son called for help, concerned that his father was in danger of committing suicide. During the arrest Tim acquired several injuries. Tim was brought to the hospital after his arrest and then placed in the custody of the Algoma Remand Centre. On March 28^th he returned to the hospital where further tests demonstrated that Tim was suffering 3 broken ribs, a punctured lung and a puncture in the bowel. Tim’s abdomen filled with feces and emergency surgery was required on Sunday, April 3^rd. He has been in the Sault Area Hospital ICU in a medically induced coma since.

The public was alerted about the incident, Tim’s injuries sustained during the arrest and subsequently the deterioration of his health on April 5th – 11 days after his arrest, 9 days after his admittance to hospital and 3 days after being placed in a medically induced coma.

The Northern Hoot learned about the incident on April 5^th and published that day. Attempts to contact Sault police that morning were directed to voicemail and an email message were not replied to. Calls and an email to the Toronto Special Investigation Unit, who had been contacted on March 28^th by family to investigate Mitchell’s injuries sustained during the arrest, also went unanswered until later that day -on April 5^th, when the agency issued a press release around 3 p.m. A press release by Sault Ste. Marie Police followed that stated:

As a result of an in-custody injury to an adult male the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) has been contacted and are currently investigating this matter. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service will not be releasing any information as the SIU has invoked their mandate.

On April 8^th, SIU issued the following press release:

UPDATE: SIU Clarifies Timeline in Arrest in Sault Ste. Marie

SIU Probing Circumstances of Arrest in Sault Ste. Marie

Mississauga, ON (8 April, 2016) —

Following further investigation, the province’s Special Investigations Unit is clarifying the timeline surrounding the arrest of a 55-year-old man in Sault Ste. Marie.

Information now indicates the following:

• Late in the evening on March 26, 2016, Sault Ste. Marie Police received a 911 call.
• Officers responded to a residence.  There was a brief struggle with officers and a 55-year-old man was arrested for a breach of recognizance.
• After the arrest, the man was taken to the Sault Area Hospital and treated.
• In the early morning hours of March 27, 2016, the man was released from the hospital and taken back into police custody.
• In the afternoon of March 27, 2016, following an appearance before a Justice of the Peace, the man was remanded into custody and transferred to the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre.
• Mid-morning on March 28, 2016, the man was found in distress.  Correctional Officers escorted the man to the Sault Area Hospital where further tests found broken bones.Three investigators have been assigned to this incident.The SIU is urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.