News Release
Niagara Regional Police Service Officer Faces Charges in Relation to Pelham Shooting
Case Number: 18-OFI-341
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-OFI-341
SIU Investigating Police-Involved Shooting in Pelham
Update: SIU Investigation in Pelham
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officer committed criminal offences in relation to shooting a 52-year-old police officer in November 2018. Director Loparco has caused charges to be laid against the subject officer.
The SIU investigation found that on November 29, 2018, Niagara Regional Police Service officers were in the area of Effingham Street and Roland Road to investigate a collision that had occurred days prior. Around noon, two of the officers became involved in an altercation. The subject officer discharged his firearm multiple times, and the other officer was struck. The officer who was struck suffered serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Detective Shane Donovan is facing the following charges under the Criminal Code:
- One count of attempt murder, contrary to s. 239(1);
- One count of aggravated assault, contrary to s. 268(1); and
- One count of assault with a weapon, contrary to s. 267(a)
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 59 Church Street, in St. Catherines on April 18, 2019.
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