News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Incident on the Oneida of the Thames First Nation
Case Number: 17-PCI-192
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the injuries sustained by a 31-year-old man in July of 2017 on the Oneida of the Thames First Nation.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. on July 26, 2017, a vehicle was involved in a hit and run collision in London. Shortly after, that same vehicle was involved in another collision. Based on information received, Ontario Provincial Police officers with the Middlesex detachment were able to locate the driver of the vehicle in a field on Oneida of the Thames First Nations territory. He was arrested and taken to hospital where he was treated with a head injury.
Director Loparco said, “The man refused to provide a statement to the SIU, and as such, the Unit was unable to determine how his injuries were caused. Accordingly, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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