News Release
SIU Terminates Mapleton Collision Investigation
Case Number: 19-PVI-044
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained by a 25-year-old man in February of 2019 when the vehicle he was operating was involved in a collision.
On the night of February 25, 2019, an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer observed a vehicle of interest – a Mazda – travelling along Highway 86. Without activating the OPP vehicle’s emergency lighting, the officer began to follow the Mazda. At the intersection of Highway 86 and Side Road 15, the Mazda slowed, resulting in the police cruiser hitting it from behind. The Mazda turned onto Side Road 15. The officer activated his emergency lights, but he was immediately ordered by the communications centre to discontinue any efforts to stop the vehicle. A short time later, the driver of the Mazda lost control of the vehicle, travelled onto the north ditch, rolled and struck a utility pole. The man fled from the vehicle on foot but was later arrested. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a suspected concussion.
Interim Director Martino said, “The evidence collected following the SIU’s preliminary inquiries establishes that the officer had terminated his pursuit of the vehicle several minutes and about four kilometres before the man lost control and smashed into a hydro pole, resulting in the concussion that was subsequently diagnosed at hospital. In the circumstances, their engagement was sufficiently disconnected in time and space such that it cannot be said that the officer caused or contributed to the collision in any fashion that might attract criminal liability. Accordingly, the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file closed.”
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