News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Newcastle Collision
Case Number: 09-OVI-125
The SIU assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of the collision. SIU investigators designated one officer as a subject officer and five officers as witness officers.
The SIU investigation determined that on June 1, 2009, a Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) officer attempted to stop a van to investigate the male driver. The 15 year old driver did not stop and a pursuit ensued. The youth lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree. He sustained a non-life threatening head injury.
Director Scott said, "The DRPS officer had the lawful authority to require the van to stop pursuant to s. 216 of the Highway Traffic Act. The driver lost control of the vehicle after he accelerated away from the police and was involved in a personal injury accident. In my view, there are no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence."
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