News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Arrest of Man Who Escaped OPP Prisoner Transport Van in St. Thomas

Case Number: 26-PCI-200   

Mississauga, ON (11 August, 2026) ---
On May 2, 2026, a 46-year-old man, in custody on criminal charges, was being transported alone in an OPP prisoner van to the Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre. While the van was stopped at a red light, the man exited with a bag containing his personal property. Police were alerted as a result of a motorist witnessing the incident. A helicopter was deployed to survey the grounds from the air, and the man’s phone was “pinged” to help narrow his location. He was later spotted by a motorist who called police. Officers arrived and began to chase the man on foot. A short time later, the man stopped, faced the officers and put his hands up. He was arrested. The man was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with two left-sided rib fractures. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injuries. 

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php


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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES