News Release
SIU Finds Vehicle Pursuit of Man - and Subsequent Apprehension Using Police Dog – to be Lawful; No Charges to Issue in St. Catharines
Case Number: 17-OCI-338
Other News Releases Related to Case 17-OCI-338
On November 16, 2017, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) was investigating a man for a series of robberies in the St. Catharines area. Following an attempted traffic stop and then a police pursuit, the man’s vehicle collided with another vehicle. The man continued to drive, but when his vehicle finally broke down, the man exited and attempted to flee on foot. With the use of a police service dog, the man was apprehended. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against a NRPS officer in this case.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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