News Release
Niagara Police Officers Charged
Case Number: 13-OCI-037
Mississauga (20 March, 2013) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that two officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to injuries sustained by 23-year-old Johnathan Hughes in February of 2013. Director Scott has caused charges to be laid against the officers.
The SIU investigation determined that on Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at about 10:00p.m., Mr. Hughes, attended the Niagara Falls Detachment of the NRPS in relation to a ticketing matter. During this time, there was an interaction between the officers and Mr. Hughes, resulting in Mr. Hughes’s injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, NRPS Constable John Garner is facing one charge of Assault, contrary to s. 266 of the Criminal Code of Canada, and Sergeant Patrick McGilly is facing one charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines on May 8, 2013. 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 officers 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