News Release

News Release

SIU Appealing for Witnesses to Interaction between Woman and Police in Chatham

Case Number: 18-PCI-076   

Other News Releases Related to Case 18-PCI-076

SIU Determines No Criminal Wrongdoing in Relation to Chatham Incident

Mississauga, ON (16 March, 2018) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is appealing for witnesses to an interaction that occurred on the weekend between a 24-year-old woman and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers with the Chatham-Kent detachment. The SIU was notified of the incident by the woman.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • Close to midnight on March 10, 2018, the woman was traveling eastbound on Park Avenue West. Just south of Lacroix Street, the woman was pulled over by an OPP officer.
  • There was an interaction, and the woman was arrested.
  • Soon after being released from the police station, the woman attended hospital where she was diagnosed with serious injuries.

At this time, two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to this incident. Two subject officers and four witness officers have been designated.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

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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