News Release
SIU Terminates Amherstburg Investigation
Case Number: 18-OCI-343
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained by a 32-year-old man in November of 2018 in Amherstburg.
On November 30, 2018, Amherstburg Police Service officers were on Sandwich Street to conduct traffic control as there had been an apartment fire. While on scene, an individual told police that a man was damaging property. An officer yelled at the person of interest, but he fled. When the man went to jump a fence, his foot got caught on the top railing of the fence and he fell to the ground. He managed to run away but was later located and arrested. He was transported to hospital for treatment of an injury to his pelvis.
Director Loparco said, “Although the man spoke briefly with investigators, he declined to participate in the SIU’s investigation. Accordingly, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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