News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into London Arrest
Case Number: 06-OCI-169
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OCI-169
On October 6, 2006, at about 4:41 a.m., two LPS officers went to a men's shelter on York Street in London to arrest Drew Simmons on an outstanding warrant for a revoked surety. They found Mr. Simmons standing outside the shelter and chased him alongside a moving westbound train that ran parallel to York Street. Mr. Simmons climbed onto the moving train. The train was stopped west of Wharncliffe Road but the officers could not find Mr. Simmons when they searched the train.
At about 5:10 a.m., the police were notified that Mr. Simmons had walked into the Salvation Army Hostel on Wellington Street for assistance for his injuries. He had jumped from the top of a train car and as a result, suffered multiple fractures.
Director Cornish concluded that no act or omission by any officer caused Mr. Simmons's injuries. He said, "The officers in this case were lawfully engaged in the execution of their duties when they attempted to arrest this man on outstanding warrants. They were never able to affect that arrest and Mr. Simmons was seriously injured when he jumped from a moving train."
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