News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Woman’s Serious Injury in Sarnia
Case Number: 17-OCI-194
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into a June 2017 incident which was reported to the SIU by a woman on July 26, 2017.
A preliminary investigation found the following:
- On June 18, 2017, a 67-year-old woman contacted 911 saying she was having thoughts of committing suicide. As a result, Emergency Medical Services and two Sarnia Police Service officers attended the woman’s residence.
- The woman was transported to the hospital by ambulance and admitted.
- X-rays taken showed the woman had a back injury.
Director Tony Loparco said, “Once the woman was escorted into the ambulance by the paramedics, the police officers left her residence and did not attend the hospital. Once at the hospital, the woman complained of chest pains but of no other injuries. Based on the evidence, it is clear that the back injury sustained by the woman was not as a result of her interaction with any police officer. As such, this 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