News Release
Officer Charged in Relation to Pedestrian Fatality in Scarborough
Case Number: 14-OVD-037
Other News Releases Related to Case 14-OVD-037
Mississauga (12 June, 2014) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a York Regional Police (YRP) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the death of an 18-year-old female pedestrian in February of this year. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that in the evening of Wednesday, February 12, 2014, Natasha Abogado was crossing St. Clair Avenue East (west of Warden Avenue) in a north to south direction. While in the street, she was struck by an unmarked vehicle being driven eastbound by an on-duty YRP officer. Ms. Abogado was pronounced dead at the scene.
As a result of the SIU investigation, YRP Constable Remo Romano is facing one charge of Dangerous Driving Causing Death, contrary to s. 249(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto on July 24, 2014. 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 officer 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