News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Vehicle Death in Thunder Bay

Case Number: 12-OVD-137   

Mississauga (21 May, 2012) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 67-year-old male in Thunder Bay on May 20, 2012.

The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) contacted the SIU and reported the following:

• Late on the evening of May 20, 2012, a TBPS officer was in the area of Victoria Ave investigating a reported stolen vehicle;

• The officer activated his vehicle’s emergency lights, but the vehicle did not stop;

• A short distance later, on Northern Ave, the officer saw that the vehicle had become involved in a collision with another civilian vehicle;

• The driver of the second civilian vehicle, a 67-year-old man, was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Three investigators and three forensic investigators from the SIU have been dispatched to the scene.  Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact the lead investigator at 416-641-1872 or 1-800-787-8529 extension 1872.

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