News Release
Belleville Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 12-OCI-014
Mississauga (18 April, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that an officer with the Belleville Police Service (BPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to injuries sustained by 31-year-old Justin Nolan. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The incident occurred on January 10, 2012. In the early afternoon hours, after a short pursuit by police, Mr. Nolan’s pursued vehicle crashed in the area of the Public Works Yard building located at 75 Wallbridge Crescent. He left the vehicle, and was later located in the works yard by officers and a police dog. There was an interaction and Mr. Nolan sustained serious dog bite injuries to his right leg.
As a result of the SIU investigation, BPS Constable Jeff McNevin, the handler of the dog, is facing one charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 15 Victoria Avenue in Belleville on May 24, 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