News Release
SIU Lays Assault Charge against Three St. Thomas Police Officers
Case Number: 16-OCI-031
Three St. Thomas Police Service officers have been charged with assault for their involvement in a takedown in February of this year.
An SIU investigation found the following:
- On February 2, 2016, several St. Thomas Police officers were conducting surveillance in a residential area near Southdale Road East and Adelaide Road South in London, Ontario. The officers were seeking a suspect in a jewelry store robbery.
- Around 4:00 p.m., officers followed a taxi to Nadine Avenue, where they removed a male passenger and arrested him in relation to their investigation.
- The 35-year old male was injured during the incident. He was released unconditionally when the officers realized they had arrested the wrong person.
As a result of this investigation, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe the officers each committed the criminal offence of assault causing bodily harm. As a result, Director Loparco has caused three charges to be laid.
Constable Frank Boyes, Constable Sean James, and Constable Daniel Spicer are now charged with assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 80 Dundas Street in London on May 31, 2016.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment.
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