On December 30, 2022, 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service responded to reports of a 28-year-old male experiencing medical distress as a result of the consumption of illicit drugs.
The male was transported to hospital but never recovered. He died the next day in hospital.
The initial investigation was assigned to the 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) Detective Services Branch. In February 2023, the Opioid Enforcement and Education Unit (OEEU) took carriage of this investigation. After a lengthy investigation, with the assistance of the Ontario Coroner’s Office and the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the cause of death was determined to be Methamphetamine Toxicity and two suspects directly related to the death were identified.
On May 18, 2023, the OEEU, with the assistance of detectives from the 1 District Detective Services Branch, Community Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Unit, and the Homicide Unit arrested the two suspects.
45-year-old Thomas Kormendy of St. Catharines is charged with the following:
Two counts of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; (Crystal) Methamphetamine, contrary to section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and Manslaughter contrary to section 236(b) of the Criminal Code.
61-year-old Douglas McClelland of St. Catharines is charged with the following:
Trafficking in a Controlled Substance; (Crystal) Methamphetamine, contrary to section 5(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
As a result of the arrest, police officers seized 25.7 grams of suspected Crystal Methamphetamine with an approximate street value of $2570.00. Douglas McClelland is also charged with the following:
Possession of a Controlled Substance, Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking contrary to section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Both Kormendy and McClelland are currently being held in custody pending a bail hearing on Friday May 19, 2023, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse in the City of St. Catharines.
The OEEU is funded by the Ontario Government’s Community and Safety Policing Grant. The OEEU is a Niagara Regional Police Service initiative focused on education regarding the risk associated with illicit opioid use, while incorporating enforcement to address opioid-related issues within our community.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact detectives by calling905-688-4111 , option 3, ext.1009476 .
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222- TIPS(8477).