News Release
Kingston Police Officer Faces Charges in Relation to Collision between Cruiser and Bicycle
Case Number: 18-OVI-306
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Kingston Police officer committed criminal offences in relation to the serious injuries sustained by a 39-year-old man in September of 2018. Director Loparco has caused charges to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation found that on September 19, 2018, a man was cycling southbound on Portsmouth Avenue when he was approached by a Kingston Police officer who pulled up beside him and ordered him to stop. The man did not stop. Shortly after, the cruiser struck the man, resulting in the man being ejected from the bicycle. He sustained serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Constable Daniel Attwood is facing the following charges under the Criminal Code:
- One count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 249 (3);
- One count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 221;
- One count of attempt to obstruct justice, contrary to s. 139 (2);
- One count of assault with weapon, contrary to s. 267(a); and
- One count of breach of trust, contrary to s. 122.
Cst Attwood was arrested by members of the SIU, and later released. He is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 279 Wellington Street in Kingston on March 21, 2019.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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