News Release

No Charges to Issue in Relation to Petawawa Collison Between Police Cruiser and Minivan

Case Number: 19-PVI-237   

Mississauga, ON (31 March, 2020) ---
On the afternoon of September 25, 2019, a police cruiser being operated by an OPP officer with the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment became involved in a collision with a minivan in the intersection of Petawawa Boulevard and Canadian Forces Drive. As a result of the collision, the 61-year-old female driver of the minivan sustained a concussion, while her front seat passenger, a 56-year-old male, sustained a fracture to his foot. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that notwithstanding the officer’s apparent responsibility for the collision, he is satisfied on balance that the manner in which the officer operated his police vehicle did not rise to the level necessary to meet the definition of dangerous driving.  As such, no criminal charges will issue, and the file has been closed.  

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

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