News Release
Woman’s Injury in Collingwood not Caused by Police; SIU Terminates Investigation
Case Number: 18-PCI-113
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the serious injury sustained by a 20-year-old woman last month in Collingwood.
At approximately 10 p.m. on April 10, 2018, Ontario Provincial Police officers responded to the area of 6th Street and Walnut Street as a result of concern for an individual. Approximately 30 minutes later, officers located the woman walking about one kilometre away. As it was apparent the woman had an injury to her ankle, officers requested the assistance of Emergency Medical Services. The woman was transported to hospital where she was diagnosed with a fractured distal fibula.
Director Loparco said, “The evidence establishes that no police officer caused or contributed to the woman’s injury. 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