News Release
Officer Faces Charges in Relation to London Collision between Police Vehicle and Taxi Cab that Injured Mother and Daughter
Case Number: 19-PVI-175
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-PVI-175
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed criminal offences in relation to a London collision that occurred in July of 2019 between a police vehicle and a taxi cab. As a result, Director Martino has caused charges to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation found that on July 28, 2019, at the intersection of Southdale Road and Verulam Street, an OPP police vehicle being operated by a Middlesex OPP officer became involved in a collision with a taxi cab. The officer was pursuing another vehicle at the time. Two passengers from the taxi cab – a 27-year-old woman and her 9-year-old daughter – sustained serious injuries in the collision.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Constable Timothy Groves is facing the following charges under the Criminal Code:
- One count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, contrary to s. 320.13(1); and
- Two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 320.13(2).
Cst Groves is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 80 Dundas Street in London on June 2, 2020.
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