News Release
Niagara Regional Police Service Officer Charged
Case Number: 04-OSA-087
The charges relate to an incident that allegedly occurred on August 6, 2004. The SIU was notified and conducted an investigation into a sexual assault complaint made by a 20-year-old woman. The complainant alleged she was stopped by a NRPS officer on Montrose Road in Niagara Falls and was sexually assaulted.
Based on the results of the SIU investigation, the Director concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe that Constable Michael Moore of the NRPS committed the following offences:
· Sexual assault, contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada; and
· Breach of trust by public officer, contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code of Canada
A summons has been issued requiring Cst Moore to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on May 4, 2005 to answer to the charges. The Justice Prosecutions Unit of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the trial interests of the charged officer, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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