News Release
Peel Regional Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 12-OVI-193
Mississauga (21 September, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Peel Regional Police (PRP) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the injury sustained by 49-year-old Thanh Huynh in a July 2012 incident in Mississauga. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that on July 7, 2012, at approximately 7:00 p.m., an officer was traveling south on Tomken Road in an unmarked police vehicle. At the intersection of Tomken Road and Bloor Street, the officer’s vehicle collided with a vehicle operated by Mr. Huynh. Mr. Huynh was taken to the Mississauga Trillium Health Centre and diagnosed with a fractured left hand.
As a result of the SIU investigation, PRP Constable Ufuk Ciftci is facing one charge of Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to s. 249(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton on October 23, 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