News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Erin Vehicle Injury
Case Number: 14-PVI-146
Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) preliminary enquiries into the vehicle injury of a 43-year-old man in Erin earlier this month, SIU Acting Director Joseph Martino has terminated the investigation. The incident, involving an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Wellington County Detachment, occurred on July 4, 2014.
The SIU investigation determined that at approximately 2:30 p.m. that afternoon, the OPP officer was conducting speed checks on Wellington County Road 124 when he observed a Chevrolet Avalanche travelling eastbound at a high rate of speed. The officer made a U-turn to stop the vehicle. The vehicle did not stop and a short time later collided with a tree. The man was taken to Guelph General Hospital for a possible fracture to his nose.
Medical reports revealed that there was no evidence of a fracture or other serious injury. 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