SIU Terminates Investigation into Serious Injury of Off-Duty Officer in Collision After Fleeing Niagara Police
Case Number:
26-OVI-438
Mississauga, ON (15 October, 2026) ---
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into a reported broken nose suffered by a 54-year-old man following a collision in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
On September 11, 2026, the Niagara Regional Police Service notified the SIU that an off-duty officer had been diagnosed with a serious injury resulting from a motor vehicle collision the previous day in which he was an alleged impaired driver. The SIU initiated an investigation.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including video footage that captured the incident in parts, Deputy Director O’Brien was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued at this time. The man was arrested on the night of September 10, 2026, following 911 reports of a suspected impaired driver weaving between lanes. When police officers located the man’s vehicle, he fled. The officers did not pursue. Subsequently, a motor vehicle collision was reported in the area of York Road and Four Mile Creek Road. No injuries were reported immediately following the collision. The following day, the man advised he had reportedly been diagnosed with a fractured nose. Efforts by the SIU to speak with the man since the incident have been unsuccessful. He declined to provide an interview and did not consent to the release of his medical records. In the absence of a statement, or confirmation of ‘serious injury’ within the mandate of the SIU, there was insufficient evidentiary foundation from which to proceed with an investigation, and the unit is without jurisdiction to investigate the incident. As such, the file has been closed.
Every consideration will be given to re-opening the file should the man decide to come forward in the future.
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
