News Release
Ottawa Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 09-OCI-103
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On May 11, 2009 an off-duty OPS officer became involved in a physical altercation with a 43 year old man in a parking lot at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport. The man sustained injuries and the SIU commenced an investigation.
Based on the results of the SIU investigation, the Director caused a charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm contrary to section 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada to be laid against 35 year old Constable Shyldon Safruk.
Constable Safruk was arrested on June 23, 2009. He was later released on a Promise to Appear with an Undertaking. He is required to attend at the Ontario Court of Justice, Elgin Street, Ottawa at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday July 9, 2009, to answer to the charge. Justice Prosecutions of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, 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