News Release

News Release

Due to No Serious Injury, SIU Discontinues Vaughan Investigation

Case Number: 25-OCI-526   

Mississauga, ON (11 March, 2026) ---
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 38-year-old man in December in Vaughan by York Regional Police officers.

On the night of December 20, 2025, the man was arrested after being observed performing a U-turn immediately prior to a RIDE checkpoint at Steeles Avenue West and Keele Street, in Vaughan. Police subsequently followed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, the man presented a foreign driver’s licence, and police conducted a records check. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) was contacted for status verification. After being notified that the CBSA had been contacted, the man fled the area on foot. With the help of aerial support and infrared surveillance, he was located a short distance away, lying in the grass of an area of dense brush. The man was arrested. After complaining of ankle pain, the man was transported to hospital.

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of medical records where no acute fractures were identified., Deputy Director O’Brien was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. There being no diagnosis of any “serious injury” within the statutory mandate of the SIU, the unit was without jurisdiction to investigate the incident. The file has been closed.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES