News Release
Ontario Provincial Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 11-PVI-200
Other News Releases Related to Case 11-PVI-200
SIU Investigates Motor Vehicle Collision in London
SIU Appeals for Witnesses in London Collision
Mississauga (12 January, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to a vehicle collision in London in October 2011. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU was informed on October 1, 2011 that earlier in the day, a police vehicle was involved in a collision with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of Glanworth Drive and Colonel Talbot Road. An OPP officer sitting in the passenger seat of the cruiser sustained serious injuries. An investigation was launched by the SIU. As a result of the findings, the driver of the police vehicle, Constable James Morrow, is facing one charge of Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm contrary to s. 249(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Cst Morrow is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 80 Dundas Street in London on February 23, 2012. The Justice Prosecutions branch 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 fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, 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