News Release

No Criminal Charges Warranted in Relation to Man’s Fatal Fall from Balcony in Ottawa

Case Number: 16-OCD-245   

Other News Releases Related to Case 16-OCD-245

SIU Investigating After Man Falls From Balcony in Ottawa

Mississauga, ON (15 January, 2018) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against an Ottawa Police Service officer in relation to the September 2016 death of a 52-year-old man who fell 12 stories from an apartment balcony. 
The Director’s Report was delivered to the Attorney General, as is required by law under the Police Services Act. The Attorney General has directed that the document be posted online. It can be found at /en/directors_report_details.php?drid=3331

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

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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES