Well-known restaurateur dies in police custody
Independent watchdog probing death of George Simeonidis Jr., of the family that owns Santa Lucia
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/11/2021 (1415 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The owner of a popular local pizza shop died in law enforcement custody near the Manitoba Legislative Building Thursday — but the Winnipeg Police Service has not notified the public of the death.
Details on the in-custody death are scarce, but two sources close to the family told the Free Press that George Simeonidis Jr., the owner of Santa Lucia Pizza on Corydon Avenue, died shortly after being detained by the WPS.
It remains unclear what brought Simeonidis Jr. — a husband and father of two, as well as a successful local business owner — into contact with police.
When contacted by the Free Press Sunday, WPS Public Information Officer Jay Murray said the department would likely release details on the case Monday — four days after the fact.
The WPS released on five incidents Friday — an assault with a weapon; a shooting; a stabbing; a drug offence; and a weapons charge — but made no mention of Simeonidis Jr.’s death.
A source close to the family said the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba — the provincial police watchdog — had launched a probe into the matter, which is standard protocol whenever the actions, or inaction, of a police officer contributes to a suspect death.
The IIU did not respond to a request for comment — sent through the provincial government — Sunday.
Simeonidis Jr. is a member of a tight-knit family that has long found success in the pizza business. The family first bought a small pizzeria in a Thompson strip mall in 1971. The restaurant soon became a hit in the community.
In 1974, the Simeonidis family relocated to Winnipeg, where the operation expanded and became one of the most popular pizza joints in the city. The family currently owns multiple brick-and-mortar locations in Winnipeg.
Simeonidis Jr. died Nov. 4, just 11 days shy of his 45th birthday. He is survived by a wife, two children — ages 13 and 11 — and a large, extended family.
“I would like an investigation to find out exactly what happened to George and the events that led to his death,” a family source said.
“How did that happen? We want to know what happened and whatever led up to it. We want to know that he wasn’t harmed and wasn’t mistreated.”
ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: rk_thorpe
