News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Saugeen First Nation Incident
Case Number: 15-PCI-017
Mississauga (4 February, 2015) --- Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) review of an interaction last month between a 25-year-old man and police in Saugeen First Nation, SIU Director Tony Loparco has terminated the investigation. The incident, which involved officers with the Ontario Provincial Police, occurred on January 25, 2015.
The SIU review determined that in the afternoon hours, the 25-year-old man was driving along Highway 21. At some point, a police cruiser pulled the vehicle over. The officer approached the driver’s window and informed the man that there was a bench warrant for him. The man dismissed the officer and drove off westbound. A short time later, officers located the man on Hwy 21 near French Bay Road and eventually he was stopped. The man was removed from the vehicle by the officers and a struggle ensued. At his request, the man was taken to hospital. He was examined by a doctor and released from hospital without any treatment.
The SIU’s statutory jurisdiction is limited to the investigation of serious injuries or deaths in cases involving the police. Due to the fact that medical reports revealed that there was no evidence of serious injury in this case, 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