News Release
SIU Lays Charge against Peel Regional Police Officer
Case Number: 16-OVI-225
Other News Releases Related to Case 16-OVI-225
SIU Investigating Incident where a Peel Regional Police Cruiser Struck an Officer
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe a Peel Regional Police (PRP) officer who struck another officer with his vehicle in August of 2016 committed a criminal offence. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation found the following:
- In the morning hours of Sunday, August 28, 2016, the PRP Communications Centre received calls regarding a break and enter in progress. Police officers were dispatched.
- The subject officer was driving a police cruiser north on Mississauga Road. At the intersection of Mississauga Road and Barbertown Road, the subject officer’s cruiser struck a police officer who was directing traffic at the intersection.
- The police officer was injured and transported by ambulance to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, PRP Constable Thomas McLean is facing one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 249(3) of the Criminal Code.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton on May 29, 2017.
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 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