News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Belleville Vehicle Injuries Investigation

Case Number: 12-OVI-297   

Mississauga (26 November, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge a Belleville Police Service officer with any criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by a 19-year-old man in October of 2012.

The SIU assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident. As part of the investigation, two witness officers and five civilian witnesses were interviewed, and closed-circuit television camera footage was examined. The subject officer did not consent to an interview or provide a copy of his duty notes, as is his legal right. 

The SIU investigation found that the following events took place on Saturday, October 13:
• In the early morning hours, the subject officer located a pickup truck on Sidney Street that had been reported stolen, and began following it. The officer activated his emergency lighting equipment in an attempt to signal the vehicle to stop. The vehicle sped off and traveled east on Bridge Street West. The subject officer began a suspect apprehension pursuit for a very short distance but discontinued when he saw the pursued vehicle run two stop signs at a high rate of speed. 
• In the meantime, the male driver of the pickup truck continued to drive dangerously. On Bridge Street near William Street, he lost control of the vehicle causing it to collide with a tree. The driver and a passenger exited the stolen vehicle and ran. They were quickly apprehended. 
• The driver was transported to Belleville General Hospital and diagnosed as sustaining fractures to his sternum and manubrium, as well as lung and liver contusions. He was then transferred to Kingston General Hospital.

Director Scott said, “In my view, the subject officer did nothing wrong – he had the lawful authority to stop the suspected stolen vehicle and the further authority to enter into a suspect apprehension pursuit once the driver began to flee. In accordance with the suspect apprehension pursuit regulation to the Police Services Act, he discontinued the pursuit as soon as it appeared that the manner of driving of the pursued vehicle was risking public safety. Unfortunately, the driver continued to drive in a reckless manner, losing control of his vehicle, and causing it to collide with a tree. In these circumstances, the complainant was the author of his own misfortune. ”

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