OPP officer鈥檚 conduct may have led to Arthur man’s death: SIU

Candlelight memorial in Rockwood on Aug. 4 will honour Nathaniel Schofield

ROCKWOOD 鈥 Nathaniel Schofield, a seemingly healthy 36-year-old Arthur father of six, died in Rockwood OPP custody on July 10.

His death is currently being investigated by Ontario鈥檚 Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates police misconduct.

鈥淏orn in 1990 of a crisis of public confidence in a system in which the police policed themselves, the SIU remains today at the forefront of civilian oversight of the police,鈥 states director Joseph Martino on the SIU鈥檚 website.

In Schofield鈥檚 case, the SIU has 鈥渄esignated a subject official,鈥 which means, according to spokesperson Kristy Denette, that Martino has opined an officer’s conduct appears 鈥渢o have been the cause of the incident under investigation,鈥 which led to Schofield鈥檚 death.

鈥淪ubject officials are invited, but cannot be legally compelled, to present themselves for an interview with the SIU and they do not have to submit their notes to the SIU,鈥 Denette added.

鈥淭he SIU is currently reviewing video footage captured from inside the cells,鈥 she told the Advertiser, and 鈥渇our witness officials and three civilian employees鈥 have also been designated.

Schofield鈥檚 mother Faye Dzikewich said the 鈥淪IU discovered something on the video footage.鈥

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Though the SIU promised her updates, Dzikewich learned about the designation of a subject officer and the video footage from a CBC reporter.

鈥淸CBC] called me to tell me that the SIU emailed them to let them know that they had a subject that was caught on video” doing something that may have led to Nathaniel鈥檚 death, Dzikewich told the Advertiser.

She said she called the SIU and was eventually able to verify the information from the CBC.

Denette said the SIU did not share any information with the media about video of any officers and the Advertiser was unable to confirm the nature/content of the videos involved.

Scott Mills, spokesperson for the Ontario Provincial Police Association, said the union offers its condolences to “all who knew and loved Mr. Schofield,” but he urged everyone to avoid drawing any conclusions until the SIU investigation is complete.

“Rumour and innuendo of blame and fault will do nothing to alleviate the pain and suffering of all involved,” Mills said in an emailed statement.

“We are supporting our members throughout this process.鈥

Dzikewich said she is upset about how the SIU has managed the case from the get-go.

鈥淓verything was handled so unprofessionally and mysteriously and doesn鈥檛 make sense to me,鈥 she said.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 trust them at all 鈥 not until they give me reason to.鈥

Nathaniel Schofield with his mother, Faye Dzikewich. Submitted photos

 

Schofield was taken into OPP custody after a domestic incident in Arthur on July 9, and held overnight at the station in Rockwood.

In the morning, he 鈥渨as observed to be in medical distress,鈥 states an SIU press release.

鈥淔irst aid was administered, and emergency medical services transported the man to a hospital in Guelph,鈥 it continues.

He was pronounced dead at Guelph General Hospital at 11:20am.

But Dzikewich sat in a Guelph courtroom from 10:30am until 4pm waiting for her son, who was scheduled to appear.

Eventually the OPP called into the courtroom at about 4pm, Dzikewich said, 鈥渟aying that my son was just rushed to hospital in distress.

鈥淚 still can鈥檛 wrap my head around it, to be honest … They had to have known he was dead since 11:20 that morning,鈥 she said.

鈥淚 just don鈥檛 understand what they were doing all day while I sat in that courtroom.”

Dzikewich learned of her son鈥檚 death shortly after 4pm, when she got a call from his girlfriend.

Nathaniel Schofield with girlfriend Angelique Hunter.

 

SIU investigators arrived soon after and brought a distraught Dzikewich into their vehicle for questioning.

Schofield鈥檚 body was still at Guelph General Hospital at this time, Dzikewich said the coroner later told her, but the SIU investigators told her he was already en route to Toronto, so she couldn’t see him.

鈥淚ts all very disturbing how they handled it,鈥 she said. 鈥淣one of it makes sense.

A comforting funeral

Schofield鈥檚 funeral was held at Crawford Funeral Chapelin Arthur on July 19, and Dzikewich said there was an 鈥渆xcellent turnout.

鈥淎 lot of children came from the lacrosse teams,鈥 she said, 鈥渂ecause Nathaniel was big on attending lacrosse games with his kids.鈥

She said children brought in lacrosse sticks and fishing poles to lay around his casket, and friends enlarged 鈥渁 lot of beautiful pictures鈥 to display.

Nathaniel with his now eight-year-old son, Aleks.

 

鈥淭here was a lot of family and friends from now and years gone by that congregated,鈥 she said.

鈥淚t was very comforting. The funeral home did a really good job.”

One damper on the day was the number of OPP cruisers Dzikewich noticed around the funeral home.

鈥淔or the short time I was outside I did see about four OPP cars,鈥 she said.

Dzikewich said that since her son鈥檚 death, she feels upset every time she sees OPP officers.

A candlelight memorial

On Aug. 4 at 8:30pm, people will gather across from the OPP station in Rockwood for a candlelit memorial in Schofield鈥檚 honour.

The event, organized by Dzikewich, is intended to show 鈥渓ove and support,鈥 for Schofield.

鈥淭he plan is for everyone to congregate in memory of Nathaniel,鈥 she said, to pay respects and to honour him.

鈥淚t’s first and foremost about giving our thoughts and prayers, our love and respect,鈥 Dzikewich said, and feeling comforted by being near the place Schofield spent his last hours.

Dzikewich said all are welcome, including people who didn’t know Schofield, and she encourages attendees to 鈥渂ring a sign, candle, lighter, or any other source of light.鈥

A friend of Dzikewich鈥檚 will bring flameless candles.

Nathaniel Schofield died in OPP custody in Rockwood on July 10. Submitted photos

 

Dzikewich is hopeful for a good turnout.

鈥淲e will light up the street at dusk!鈥 she states in an event page for the memorial.

Dzikewich said a longtime friend suggested she organize the event, 鈥渁nd I thought it was a great idea.

鈥淚t brings awareness to what happened,鈥 she said, and 鈥渂rings people together for comfort and love.鈥

For more information about the memorial, visit .

Fundraiser

To contribute to a fundraiser for Schofield’s burial plot and tombstone in Arthur, and legal fees related to his death, visit .

Dzikewich said she has hired a lawyer who is helping her access information, including details about Schofield鈥檚 autopsy.

Though she hoped to pay for a second autopsy outside of the SIU investigation, Dzikewich said she did not raise enough money to make that possible.

But, having spoken with the coroner, she is 鈥渃onfident that the autopsy was at least done right.听

鈥淚 feel like he was being truthful with me 鈥 very straightforward,鈥 she said.

So far, almost $10,000 has been raised, covering the cost of Schofield鈥檚 funeral, Dzikewich said, which has 鈥渂een a great support.鈥

She said many of the donations came from people who she does not know, and she appreciates the continued generosity.

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