News Release
As Officer Did Nothing to Cause or Contribute to Collision Between Civilian Vehicle and Pedestrian, SIU Discontinues Mississauga Investigation
Case Number: 24-OVI-464
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 26-year-old man in October in Mississauga.
In the evening of October 30, 2024, a Peel Regional Police officer, responding to a complaint of street racing, arrived in the area of Meadowvale Boulevard and Meadowpine Boulevard in Mississauga. He pulled in front of two vehicles positioned side-by-side in the northbound lanes of Meadowvale Boulevard believing, presumably, they were about to race. On seeing the cruiser in front of them, both vehicles accelerated past the officer travelling north. Shortly, one of them struck a pedestrian who had entered onto the roadway in front of the vehicle. The officer pulled forward, stopped and exited his cruiser, and rendered care to the 26-year-old man. At hospital, the man was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of video footage that largely captured the incident, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. Aside from perhaps acting as the catalyst for the impulsive behaviour of the drivers who fled, the officer did nothing to cause or contribute to the collision. On this record, there was 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES