News Release

News Release

SIU Charges Police Officer in Relation to Man’s Arrest in London

Case Number: 17-OCI-113   

Mississauga, ON (15 August, 2017) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe a London Police Service (LPS) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the arrest of a 60-year-old man in May of 2017. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.    

The SIU investigation found the following:
  • Shortly before 8 a.m. on May 12, 2017, the LPS received a call regarding a man standing on the side of Wellington Road, south of Wilkins Street.
  • Police officers responded to the area and arrested the man. The man was released unconditionally by the police officers.
  • Later that day, the man was transported to hospital as a result of experiencing pain. He was later diagnosed with serious injuries. 
 
As a result of the SIU investigation, 48-year-old LPS Constable Omar Hassan has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code.

The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 80 Dundas Street in London on September 5, 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.  

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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

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