News Release

While Deployment of Distractionary Device at Milton Residence Caused Hearing Loss to Man, SIU Finds No Criminal Charges Warranted

Case Number: 17-OCI-009   

Mississauga, ON (14 September, 2018) ---
During the early morning hours of January 12, 2017, Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) officers attended a residence in Milton to execute a search warrant. When one officer deployed a distractionary device, the device detonated beside a 31-year-old man, causing him to have some hearing loss in his left ear. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against an HRPS officer in relation to the serious injury sustained by the man.  

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=3246

The Director’s Report was delivered to the Attorney General, as is required by law under the Police Services Act. The Attorney General has directed that the document be posted online. 

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

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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES