News Release
Police Officer Did Not Cause or Contribute to Motorcycle Collision in Essex County; No Charges to Issue
Case Number: 19-PVI-167
On July 19, 2019, an Ontario Provincial Police officer observed a motorcycle being operated in Essex County, and made the decision to pursue it. When the 46-year-old operator of the motorcycle drove through a stop sign without stopping, the officer terminated the pursuit. Shortly thereafter, the motorcycle was involved in a collision with a parked motor vehicle. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that there are no reasonable grounds to lay charges against the officer in relation to the serious injuries sustained by the man.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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