News Release
SIU Charges OPP Officer in Kenora Incident
Case Number: 18-PCI-382
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-PCI-382
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer with the Kenora detachment, committed a criminal offence in relation to the arrest of a 50-year-old man in December 2018. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that in the early morning hours of December 16, 2018, an OPP officer observed a vehicle traveling on Highway 17. As a result of the officer’s interest in the vehicle, the driver pulled into the parking lot of a convenience store located at the intersection of Highway 17 and River Drive. Following an interaction between the man and the officer, the man was arrested and transported to the OPP Kenora detachment. When the man complained of pain, he was transported to hospital for treatment. At a later date he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, OPP Constable Steve Jacko has been charged with one count of aggravated assault, contrary to s. 268 (1) of the Criminal Code.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 216 Water Street, in Kenora on April 25, 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