News Release
No Criminal Charges Warranted in Relation to Death of Man in Strathroy
Case Number: 17-PCD-333
On the night of November 11, 2017, a man was banging on the front door of the Strathroy OPP detachment. A police officer answered the door, and after seeing that the man was bleeding, the officer asked the man to wait as she went to retrieve her gloves. When the officer went back inside, the man headed to the roadway, and soon after was struck by a passing vehicle. He was transported to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries months later. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the OPP officer in relation to the man’s death.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.ontario.ca/page/special-investigations-unit-siu-directors-reports.
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