News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Complaint of Sexual Assault
Case Number: 06-OSA-041
On March 16, 2006, the GPS notified the SIU of an incident that occurred on March 8, 2006, in which a 27-year-old woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by a GPS officer. As a result, the SIU assigned five investigators, including two forensic identification technicians, to probe the allegation. During the course of the investigation, investigators interviewed over 60 police and civilian witnesses. Police notes and reports and a security video from the scene were obtained and reviewed. Forensic identification technicians extensively examined, photographed and videotaped the incident scene.
The SIU investigation revealed that on March 8th, shortly after 10:00 a.m., protesters who belong to a group known as the Guelph Union of Tenants and Supporters (GUTS) went into the Brock Room at the Holiday Inn on Scottsdale Drive. They blew horns, flew flags and shouted to interrupt the hearings held by the Ontario Housing and Rental Tribunal. The police were called when the protesters ignored hotel staff orders to leave the premises.
A number of uniformed police officers responded and encountered the protesters in the hallway outside the Brock Room. The police gave the protesters several warnings to leave or be arrested under the Trespass to Property Act. Some proceeded to leave while others continued to linger in the hallway, watching the arrests and yelling at the officers.
The complainant was one of five people who allegedly refused the police's order to leave the building. The arresting officer approached the woman and told she was under arrest for trespassing. The complainant alleged she was sexually touched while being arrested by the officer. The complainant was then removed from the hotel and taken to the police station by a female officer where she was charged and released. The GPS became aware of the complainant's allegation that she was sexually assaulted on March 13, 2006, when they started to receive e-mail and fax correspondence in regard to the incident.
Having carefully reviewed all of the available evidence, the Deputy Director concluded, "Independent eyewitnesses establish that the allegation of sexual assault is false. I have no grounds to cause an information to be laid against any police officer in connection with the matter under investigation."
The SIU has issued a final news release detailing the completed investigation into this sexual assault allegation due to the publicized nature of the complaint and the significant amount of media coverage on this particular incident.
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