Ontario coroner says mandatory proceeding will examine circumstances surrounding 2020 death in Elliot Lake
Jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths
SUDBURY, Ontario — An inquest will be held into the death of Robert Shane Rhodes, a 49-year-old man who died following an interaction with Ontario Provincial Police officers in Elliot Lake, the Ministry of the Solicitor General announced Monday.
Dr. Harry Voogjarv, regional supervising coroner for Ontario’s North Region based in the Sudbury Office, said the inquest has been formally called under the province’s Coroners Act.
“An inquest will be held into the death of Robert Shane Rhodes,” Voogjarv announced in the release.
Rhodes died on April 20, 2020, after an interaction with Ontario Provincial Police officers at the Elliot Lake Probation and Parole Office, according to the ministry.
The coroner’s office said the inquest is mandatory under Ontario law.
An inquest is a public hearing led by a coroner and jury that examines the facts surrounding a death. While the process does not assign legal blame or determine criminal liability, juries may issue recommendations intended to help prevent similar deaths in the future.
“The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Rhodes’ death,” the ministry said in the release. “The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.”
No date or venue for the proceedings has been announced.
“Further details regarding the inquest, including the date and venue, will be provided at a later date,” the ministry said.
Mandatory inquests in Ontario are required in certain circumstances under the Coroners Act, including some deaths involving police interactions, individuals in custody, or other specified situations where public scrutiny is deemed necessary.
The inquest into Rhodes’ death is expected to hear evidence related to the events leading up to the fatal incident, including testimony from witnesses, experts, and officials connected to the case.
At the conclusion of the proceedings, the jury may deliver non-binding recommendations to provincial ministries, police services, correctional institutions, or other organizations if it identifies areas where policy or procedural changes could reduce the risk of future deaths.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General did not provide additional details about the circumstances of the April 2020 incident or the nature of the interaction between Rhodes and police officers.
Ontario’s Office of the Chief Coroner oversees inquests across the province and publishes jury recommendations following proceedings.
More information regarding the upcoming inquest is expected once scheduling and venue arrangements are finalized.