News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Man’s Injury in Minibike Collision in Norfolk County
Case Number: 24-PVI-432
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, terminated an investigation into a fractured left wrist suffered by a 22-year-old man in a collision in Port Dover. On October 9, 2024, the Ontario Provincial Police reported that a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision following an effort by an OPP cruiser to stop his minibike.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including an interview with the motorcyclist and a review of video footage that captured the incident in part, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued.
On August 3, 2024, police were called to investigate the man for unlawfully operating a minibike. The officer located the man travelling east on Chapman Street West and activated his emergency lights. He pursued the vehicle from Main Street, subsequently activating his siren. The man continued east until St. Patrick Street, where he turned left to travel north. In the area of Bridge Alley, he entered the Lions Silver Lake Park intending to take a trail. He crashed when his rear wheel slipped on damp grass, suffering a fractured left wrist in the process.
Director Martino found the officer abandoned the pursuit when he observed the minibike enter on the park, coming to a stop on St. Patrick Street. Minutes later, cleared to resume patrol, he travelled northward and observed the crash scene with paramedics already in attendance.
On this record, it was evident the man alone was responsible for his injury, Director Martino concluded. Accordingly, there being patently nothing to investigate as far as the officer’s potential criminal liability was concerned, the file has been closed.
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
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Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES