News Release
SIU Terminates Port Hope Investigation
Case Number: 18-OCI-107
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into an interaction that occurred last month in Port Hope between police officers and a 17-year-old male.
On April 6, 2018, the Port Hope Police Service received information that a young man in the area of Wellington Street and Croft Street appeared to be intoxicated and was waving a long stick at people in the area. When officers approached the young man, he ignored their commands and continued walking. He was arrested soon after. Paramedics arrived on scene and transported the young man to hospital for treatment.
Director Loparco said, “The medical evidence indicates the young man did not suffer a serious injury. As such, 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