News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Death in Chelmsford

Case Number: 06-OVD-070   

Other News Releases Related to Case 06-OVD-070

SIU Investigates Death in Chelmsford

TORONTO (25 May, 2006) --- James Cornish, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) is criminally liable in relation to the death of a 16-year-old young man.

The young man was riding his bicycle northbound on Errington Avenue when a Toyota Corolla vehicle struck him from behind

SIU investigators focused on what role, if any, the police played in the events surrounding the collision. The SIU investigation revealed that on April 22, 2006, at about 8:39 p.m., two GSPS officers in a marked cruiser were patrolling southbound on Errington when they saw two cars traveling at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. The cars - a Chevrolet Cavalier and a Toyota Corolla - were traveling northbound on Errington.

As the two cars passed the cruiser, the police officers activated the emergency lights and turned the cruiser around. Once turned, the officers noticed the Cavalier had stopped at the side of the road. The Corolla had also stopped at the end of Errington, near Highway 144.
The officers continued driving northbound and came upon the collision scene in the area of Errington and Manville Road. Officers rendered medical assistance to the injured cyclist until paramedics arrived. The young man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Director Cornish stated, "Because of the width of the roadway, it took the officer driving the cruiser some 20 to 30 seconds, and several back and forth maneuvers, before he had his cruiser fully turned. There is nothing in the evidence to suggest that the subject officer's conduct caused or contributed to the collision that tragically took the life of this young man. In fact, the evidence indicates the young man had already been struck by the time the officers were northbound on Errington Avenue."

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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES