ROCKWOOD – 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’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates police misconduct.
“Born 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,” states director Joseph Martino on the SIU’s website.
In Schofield’s case, the SIU has “designated a subject official,” which means, according to spokesperson Kristy Denette, that Martino has opined an officer’s conduct appears “to have been the cause of the incident under investigation,” which led to Schofield’s death.
“Subject 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,” Denette added.
“The SIU is currently reviewing video footage captured from inside the cells,” she told the Advertiser, and “four witness officials and three civilian employees” have also been designated.
Schofield’s mother Faye Dzikewich said the “SIU discovered something on the video footage.”
‘Unprofessional’
Though the SIU promised her updates, Dzikewich learned about the designation of a subject officer and the video footage from a CBC reporter.
“[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’s 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.”
Dzikewich said she is upset about how the SIU has managed the case from the get-go.
“Everything was handled so unprofessionally and mysteriously and doesn’t make sense to me,” she said.
“I don’t trust them at all – not until they give me reason to.”
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 “was observed to be in medical distress,” states an SIU press release.
“First aid was administered, and emergency medical services transported the man to a hospital in Guelph,” 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, “saying that my son was just rushed to hospital in distress.
“I still can’t wrap my head around it, to be honest … They had to have known he was dead since 11:20 that morning,” she said.
“I just don’t understand what they were doing all day while I sat in that courtroom.”
Dzikewich learned of her son’s 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’s 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.
“Its all very disturbing how they handled it,” she said. “None of it makes sense.
A comforting funeral
Schofield’s funeral was held at Crawford Funeral Chapel in Arthur on July 19, and Dzikewich said there was an “excellent turnout.
“A lot of children came from the lacrosse teams,” she said, “because Nathaniel was big on attending lacrosse games with his kids.”
She said children brought in lacrosse sticks and fishing poles to lay around his casket, and friends enlarged “a lot of beautiful pictures” to display.
Nathaniel with his now eight-year-old son, Aleks.
“There was a lot of family and friends from now and years gone by that congregated,” she said.
“It 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.
“For the short time I was outside I did see about four OPP cars,” she said.
Dzikewich said that since her son’s 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’s honour.
The event, organized by Dzikewich, is intended to show “love and support,” for Schofield.
“The plan is for everyone to congregate in memory of Nathaniel,” she said, to pay respects and to honour him.
“It’s first and foremost about giving our thoughts and prayers, our love and respect,” 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 “bring a sign, candle, lighter, or any other source of light.”
A friend of Dzikewich’s will bring flameless candles.
Nathaniel Schofield died in OPP custody in Rockwood on July 10. Submitted photos
Dzikewich is hopeful for a good turnout.
“We will light up the street at dusk!” she states in an event page for the memorial.
Dzikewich said a longtime friend suggested she organize the event, “and I thought it was a great idea.
“It brings awareness to what happened,” she said, and “brings people together for comfort and love.”
For more information about the memorial, visit facebook.com/share/HmqrCfKi2j21zFxo.
Fundraiser
To contribute to a fundraiser for Schofield’s burial plot and tombstone in Arthur, and legal fees related to his death, visit gofundme.com/f/in-need-of-help-to-pay-for-funeral-lawyer-expenses.
Dzikewich said she has hired a lawyer who is helping her access information, including details about Schofield’s 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 “confident that the autopsy was at least done right.
“I feel like he was being truthful with me – very straightforward,” she said.
So far, almost $10,000 has been raised, covering the cost of Schofield’s funeral, Dzikewich said, which has “been a great support.”
She said many of the donations came from people who she does not know, and she appreciates the continued generosity.
