News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Vehicle Injuries near Napanee
Case Number: 11-PVI-247
Mississauga (19 March, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge an OPP officer with any criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by 21-year-old Vicky Gorley in December of 2011.
The SIU assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident. The subject officer declined to be interviewed and did not supply a copy of his duty notes, as was his right. Four witness officers and two civilian witnesses were interviewed.
The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on Monday, December 5:
• In the early hours of that day, Ms. Gorley was stopped by police in her white Toyota on the south shoulder on the eastbound Hwy 401, as she was being investigated for an assault allegation.
• Minutes later, Ms. Gorley sped away from the investigating officers, one of them being the subject officer. Her actions led to a suspect apprehension pursuit eastbound on Hwy 401 at speeds up to 180 km/hr. The road conditions were slick due to rain. The subject officer activated his emergency lights in the pursuit.
• Ms. Gorley lost control of her vehicle after she passed a tractor-trailer, causing her vehicle to roll over repeatedly and her to be ejected.
• She sustained multiple injuries as a result of the collision, the most significant one being a severed arm.
Director Scott said, “In my view, the subject officer had the lawful authority to enter into a suspect apprehension pursuit pursuant to s. 3 of O.Reg 266/10 of the Police Services Act; Ms. Gorley was clearly attempting to elude the police and the subject officer had reason to believe she had committed a criminal offence. There is no suggestion that the subject officer’s vehicle had contact with the pursued vehicle. Due to no fault of the subject officer, Ms. Gorley unfortunately lost control of her vehicle leading to her significant injuries.”
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