News Release
Police Officers were not Present at Time Woman was Fatally Struck by Vehicle; SIU Terminates London Investigation
Case Number: 18-OVD-040
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the death earlier this month of a 32-year-old woman in London.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on February 8, 2018, London Police Service officers observed a stolen pickup truck being operated in the area of Hamilton Road and Egerton Street. Despite attempts to stop the vehicle, the driver did not stop. In the area of Vancouver Avenue and Moffat Crescent, the man abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Unbeknownst to officers, the man stole another vehicle from a nearby residence, and in the process, a woman who attempted to prevent the vehicle theft was killed. Police officers arrived shortly after as a result of a civilian calling 911.
Director Loparco said, “It is clear that no police officer was present at the time this tragic incident occurred. Accordingly I have terminated the 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