Vigil for Barrie Man Who died in Police Custody

Olando Brown's Minister says he was speaking with Barrie Police in the days leading up to his death

An emotional vigil for family and friends of Barrie resident Olando Brown.

Genavieve LeBlanc has known Brown for over a decade and says he was a great stepfather to Neveah, a very humble and very respectful man towards women.

“he was just waiting outside the barber shop when Police asked for his ID”

LeBlanc was shocked to hear the news of his death, “he was a soccer player and soccer coach, he was known to police for a minor incident but nothing serious, it [ a YouTube video] shows Police broke his heart with excessive force.”

A video purportedly taken by a bystander during the 32-year-old’s arrest came out early Friday afternoon. That video shows a man being tasered by Barrie Police during an arrest near Bayfield and Dunlop Streets.

It shows two, then three officers, wrestling with the unidentified man. The video does not show events leading up to the scuffle, nor what happened as the man was being taken away.

The events leading up to Olando Brown’s death

Olando Brown’s Minister Ola Seli of Foursquare Gospel Church in Barrie says Brown was already speaking with his lawyer who was in contact with Barrie Police in the days leading up to his death – after what he called an argument with his wife.

The Timeline

Seli met with Brown back in January about re-joining the church and at that time Brown told him he was focusing on work and family and his music, but afterwards he would come back to the church.

A week before his death

Fast forward to June 16th and Seli says he got a call from Brown who said he needed help, “Olando told me he had an argument with his wife and Police are looking for him.”

“The next day I brought him to church and the Minister was preaching about heaven and giving your life to the Lord, and I looked at Olando and he was weeping, it touched my heart.”

The week of his death

Seli says Brown called him on Wednesday to say his lawyer was speaking with police to make arrangements.

On Thursday Brown came to Seli’s office but he wasn’t there. On Friday morning Brown told his Minister he would come and see him that morning.

“That was the last time I heard from him”

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has been called in to probe the matter. Due to the SIU involvement, Barrie Police cannot comment on the case.

The Barrie Police Association tweeted about the incident, calling it “undoubtedly tragic, saying they stand behind their members 100 per cent and look forward to all of the details to be made public.”

Police Association Stand Behind members

A cause of death has yet to be revealed. The SIU preliminary information suggests the following:

  • At approximately 2:30 p.m. on June 22, 2018, the man was arrested by Barrie Police Service officers and transported to the police station
  • While being booked, the man went into medical distress
  • Paramedics arrived, provided first aid to the man and transported him to hospital
  • A short time later, he was pronounced dead

Three subject officers and one witness officer have been designated.

The SIU asks anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit also urges anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.