The death of a Chatham man more than six years ago has been confirmed as accidental following a mandatory coroner’s inquest.
The inquest into the death of 35-year-old Thomas Humphrey was conducted virtually between October 15, 2025 and October 23, 2025, with a jury hearing evidence from 10 witnesses, along with 22 exhibits.
Humphrey, who was of Delaware Nation at Moraviantown heritage, died at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on April 6, 2019, following an interaction with officers from the Chatham-Kent Police Service.
The cause of death has been ruled as accidental due to “methamphetamine toxicity in the setting of struggle and restraint.”
Under the Coroner’s Act of Ontario, a mandatory inquest is required when a person dies while detained by or in the custody of a peace officer.
While the jury did not assign criminal or civil liability, it has identified opportunities to prevent future deaths in similar circumstances.
The jury issued 10 recommendations, four of which were directed to the Chatham-Kent Police Service. These included updating use of force training, updates to policies and training material, and reviewing the collaboration framework with partner agencies.
According to a CK Police Services Board report, all four recommendations have since been addressed by police officials.
