News Release
No Grounds to Charge Police in Relation to Arrest at Ottawa Restaurant
Case Number: 18-OCI-045
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-OCI-045
SIU Appealing for Witnesses to Interaction outside Ottawa Restaurant
On the night of February 18, 2018, Ottawa Police Service (OPS) officers responded to a 911 call regarding a man threatening to shoot people at a Boston Pizza restaurant. Upon their arrival, officers attempted to negotiate with the 60-year-old man, but he refused to leave the premises. A struggle ensued, and the man was subsequently subdued and arrested with the assistance of other officers. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against any OPS officer in relation to the man’s arrest.
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