News Release

News Release

SIU Closes Investigation into York Region Incident

Case Number: 12-OVI-380   

Mississauga (28 December, 2012) --- Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) preliminary enquiries into a vehicle collision yesterday in York Region, SIU Director Ian Scott has terminated the investigation. 

Four investigators, three forensic investigators and a collision reconstructionist from the SIU probed the circumstances surrounding this incident. The investigation determined that on Thursday, December 27, 2012, Sergeant Kelly Bachoo and Constable Andy Pattenden from York Regional Police were traveling westbound on Mt Albert Road in East Gwilliambury in an unmarked vehicle. Meanwhile, a 26-year-old female was driving a pickup truck, traveling eastbound. East of Warden Avenue, the pickup truck driver apparently crossed over the centre line and the vehicles collided head on.

Sgt Bachoo, the driver of the police vehicle, was taken to hospital for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries. Cst Pattenden was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, but medically cleared to go home as he did not sustain serious injuries.  The driver of the pickup truck was taken to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket. Her injuries, too, were not deemed to be serious.

In summary, the passenger in the police vehicle and the driver of the pickup truck did not sustain serious injuries. Given the Unit’s mandate, which is limited to serious injuries and deaths that may have resulted from criminal offences committed by police officers, there is nothing further to investigate. Accordingly, the SIU investigation has been terminated.

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