News Release
No Basis to Lay Charges in Relation to Fall from Burgoyne Bridge
Case Number: 18-OCI-327
In the early morning hours of November 5, 2018, Niagara Regional Police Service officers were dispatched to the Burgoyne Bridge after receiving reports of an individual who was threatening to jump from the bridge. When the first officer arrived at the scene, an 18-year-old female ran away, and the officer gave chase. When the female climbed over the bridge railing, the officer grabbed her to prevent her from falling. After a brief struggle, the female was able to push herself away from the officer, falling to a grassy area below. 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 relation to the woman’s fall.
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