News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Shooting Death of Man in Ottawa
Case Number: 19-OFD-024
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OFD-024
On January 31, 2019, 30-year-old Gregory Ritchie was shot at several times by two Ottawa Police Service officers. Mr. Ritchie was subsequently transported to hospital where he was pronounced deceased, the result of a gunshot wound he had sustained. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against any of the officers in relation to Mr. Ritchie’s death.
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