News Release
SIU Concludes London Vehicle Injury Investigation
Case Number: 12-PVI-025
Mississauga (20 March, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer with the Western detachment with any criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by 37-year-old John Wiebe in January of 2012.
The SIU assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident. The subject officer did not consent to an interview or to the release of his duty notes, as is his legal right. Five witness officers and three civilian witnesses were interviewed.
The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on Saturday, January 21:
• In the late evening hours, the subject officer was operating a radar device when he clocked Mr. Wiebe driving above the posted speed limit northbound on Wellington Road South.
• The officer began following the vehicle, and had his emergency lights activated in an attempt to signal the driver to pull over. However, Mr. Wiebe accelerated away from the subject officer’s vehicle.
• The subject officer immediately shut down his emergency lights and disengaged.
• A short time later, Mr. Wiebe lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway and struck a tree.
• As a result of the collision, he sustained injuries to his head and spine.
Director Scott said, “In my view, there is nothing in the actions of the subject officer that would attract criminal liability. He did not engage in a suspect apprehension pursuit as defined by the Police Services Act because he disengaged as soon as Mr. Wiebe’s vehicle accelerated. Nor is there any suggestion of contact between the two vehicles. Accordingly, I cannot form the grounds that the subject officer committed any criminal offence with respect to this incident.”
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations