News Release
SIU Investigates Arrest in London
Case Number: 06-OCI-169
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OCI-169
On October 6, 2006, at about 4:30 a.m., London Police Service (LPS) officers responded to York Street to arrest a man, Drew Simmons, on an outstanding warrant for a revoked surety. Two officers arrived and chased Mr. Simmons on foot alongside a moving westbound train that ran parallel to York Street. The officers lost sight of the man.
The police were actively searching for Mr. Simmons when they received information that an injured man was at the Salvation Army on Wellington Street. Officers attended and identified the man as Mr. Simmons. He was arrested and taken to Victoria Hospital, where he is being treated for multiple fractures.
SIU investigators are in London today to probe the circumstances of Mr. Simmons's arrest to determine the extent of police involvement in this incident and whether or not the officers are criminally responsible for Mr. Simmons's injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
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