Man found dead on downtown Niagara Falls sidewalk

Police say no foul play is suspected after a 33-year-old man was discovered dead on a sidewalk in downtown Niagara Falls Saturday morning.

Niagara Regional Police were called to the area of Queen Street near Ontario Avenue shortly after 7:30 a.m. following a report of a deceased male.

Police said the man was found without vital signs and pronounced dead at the scene.

“At this time, no foul play is suspected by officers with the detective office and no charges have been laid,” said Niagara Regional Police spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin.

A photo of the deceased man his body draped in a sheet, was posted on social media on Saturday,

sparking comments of outrage.

“It is a good bet to assume some members of this person’s family are on social media and that picture is how they found out about his death,” Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni posted on Facebook. “It is very difficult to understand people venting outrage at the lack of dignified way they believe the homeless are treated in life but think it is OK to extend that lack of dignity in death to both the victim and their family by posting and sharing pictures of a covered body on the ground.”

Some comments said the photo sheds light on the realities of the city’s homeless population and to those in the throes of drug addiction, and that the image should act as a call to action for all levels of government to address the issue.

A tent encampment of homeless people popped up near the downtown core in April after the Out of the Cold overnight shelter closed its doors.

It is unknown if the deceased individual was an occupant of the encampment.

The photo has since been removed from social media.