News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Arrest of Man in Burlington
Case Number: 18-PCI-166
In the early morning hours of June 3, 2018, Ontario Provincial Police officers were conducting a RIDE spot check program in the area of the westbound ramp from Fairview Street/Plains Road to the southbound QEW. While an officer was dealing with a vehicle driver who had been directed to provide a breath sample, the passenger exited the vehicle and attempted to disrupt the test. The passenger was eventually arrested and placed into a police vehicle. When an officer closed the door to the police vehicle, the man sustained an injury to his left foot. The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the officer in this case.
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