News Release
SIU Appeals for Witnesses to an Incident Involving London Police Service Officers During Orientation Week Near Fanshawe College
Case Number: 08-OCI-184
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OCI-184
SIU Concludes Investigation Into Incident During Fanshawe College Orientation Week in London
During the early morning hours of September 6, 2008, officers of the London Police Service were on patrol in response to open drinking and other alcohol-related concerns near 190 Fleming Drive, an area comprised of off-campus, privately-run student residences near Fanshawe College. An 18-year-old student received a fractured orbital bone under his left eye as a result of a struggle with police who were attempting to arrest him as a crowd gathered around the officers. The youth was treated at Victoria Hospital in London. Once the seriousness of the injury was assessed, the London Police Service notified the SIU to conduct an investigation in accordance with the agency's mandate.
Anyone, who either witnessed this incident at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday September 6th or may have any information about this matter, is asked to contact the SIU at 1-800-787-8529, extension 9007.
The SIU has designated seven officers - two subject officers and five witness officers - to be interviewed.
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