News Release
SIU Lays Assault Charge Against Guelph Police Service Officer
Case Number: 19-OCI-026
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OCI-026
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has caused a charge to be laid against a Guelph Police Service (GPS) officer in relation to an incident that occurred earlier this year.
At approximately 3 a.m. on February 4, 2019, GPS officers attended a residential building on Carden Street in Guelph to conduct an investigation. Outside the main entrance of the building, a GPS officer became involved in an interaction with a 45-year-old man unrelated to the incident being investigated. The man was arrested and transported to the police station. He was later taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, GPS Sergeant Rodney Cox is facing one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code.
Sergeant Cox is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 36 Wyndham Street South in Guelph on July 23, 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