News Release
London Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 14-OCI-279
Mississauga (29 April, 2015) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a police officer with the London Police Service (LPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by 43-year-old Michel Gibeault in August of 2014. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 10, 2014, Mr. Gibeault was arrested in London for various offences. When taken to the police station, there was an interaction between Mr. Gibeault and the officer. Mr. Gibeault was subsequently released and later diagnosed with two fractured ribs. The matter was reported to the SIU by the LPS on December 12, 2014.
As a result of the SIU investigation, LPS Sergeant Trevor Pool is facing one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 80 Dundas Street in London on June 9, 2015. 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 accused 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