SIU probing man’s death after body recovered from Scugog River in Lindsay

UPDATE 4:30 p.m.

A body was recovered from the Scugog River in Lindsay on Monday afternoon as the Special Investigations Unit is now probing the death.

The body of a 34-year-old man was removed by members of the OPP’s Underwater Search and Recovery Unit just before 3:30 p.m.

City of Kawartha Lake Police say the province’s Special Investigations Unit was contacted and has invoked its mandate in the incident.

“The City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service cannot release further information about this incident while the Special Investigations Unit conducts its investigation,” police stated.

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City of Kawartha Lakes police on Sunday were called around 6:30 p.m. by a witness who was concerned about a man he saw in the area of William Street North.

“When officers arrived to investigate, they located a man who immediately fled north along a walking path that runs parallel to the Scugog River,” stated Sgt. Dave Murtha in Monday morning.

Officers lost sight of the man as he fled, but witnesses observed the man enter the Scugog River near the area of Colborne Street West, Murtha said.

Police were not able to determine if the man exited the river.

A subsequent search was launched on the east and west river banks which included a marine unit from the Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service. The search was called off at 8:30 p.m. and resumed Monday morning.

“The man who entered the river has not been found and the search for him is continuing,” Murtha stated Monday morning.

In an email to CHEX News on Monday morning, the Special Investigations Unit said there “was not an investigation at this time.”

The SIU probes incidents involving police when a civilian has been injured or died or involves a sexual assault.