Circumstances

On October 20, 1949, Constable John (Jack) Ferguson and his partner travelled to Grand Bend at the request of the Grand Bend Police to assist with arresting a suspected mental health patient. It was reported that the suspect was wandering around the village carrying a pipe wrench. During the arrest there was a violent struggle with the suspect, but he was subdued, arrested and placed into the back seat of the cruiser. Constable Ferguson got in beside the suspect. His partner and a Grand Bend officer sat in the front seats. Before the cruiser could leave that location, Constable Ferguson suffered a heart attack and died moments later in the cruiser.

Postscript

John Ferguson was 55 years of age and had been policing for 27 years. He began as a County Constable in Huron County, then joined the Ontario Provincial Police on June 1, 1947. He was married and had a son at the time of his death.