News Release
SIU Terminates New Tecumseth Investigation
Case Number: 20-PCI-258
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries sustained by a 27-year-old woman last month in New Tecumseth.
On October 6, 2020, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were alerted that a woman was headed from Mississauga to Manitoba, where she intended to take her own life. An OPP officer located the woman in the area of the on-ramp from Highway 89 onto the northbound lanes of Highway 400, where the woman had stopped her vehicle and exited. There followed a brief interaction at a distance in which the woman, having equipped herself with a boxcutter, began to slash her wrist, prompting the officer to discharge his conducted energy weapon (CEW). Use of the CEW was successful in temporarily immobilizing the woman, allowing the officer time to move in and safely take her into custody. The woman was taken from the scene to hospital and treated for her wounds.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it is apparent that the woman is alone to blame for her injuries. As there is no question on the aforementioned-record of any potential criminal liability on the part of the officer in connection with the woman’s injuries, the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file is closed.”
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