News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Explosion in Ottawa
Case Number: 08-OCI-160
"There is no connection between the injuries suffered by this woman and the actions of the subject officers," concluded SIU Director Ian Scott. "In fact, her injuries would have likely been much more severe without their intervention."
On August 11, 2008 just before 10:30 p.m., Ottawa Police responded to a call on Sunset Blvd. about a woman threatening to set the garage on fire with herself in it. The responding officers were standing outside the two-story home awaiting backup when the attached garage exploded. The officers entered the burning garage, removed the 43-year-old woman and rendered first aid. She suffered second and third-degree burns to nearly 70 per cent of her body and remains in hospital receiving treatment for her injuries. .
During the course of its investigation, the SIU interviewed two subject officers, three witness officers and seven civilian witnesses, including family members and neighbours, as well as three Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. SIU investigators also reviewed police communications tapes.
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