News Release
Ontario Provincial Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 08-PVD-256
On December 3, 2008 there was a collision at Highway 11/17 and Twin City Crossroads between an OPP police car driven by Sergeant Darryl Storey and a car driven by Jasmine Veneruzzo of Murillo, Ontario. Ms. Veneruzzo sustained fatal injuries in the collision.
Based on the results of the SIU investigation, the Director yesterday caused charges of Criminal Negligence Causing Death contrary to section 220(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada and Dangerous Driving Causing Death contrary to section 249(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada, to be laid against Sergeant Storey.
The officer was arrested and released on a promise to appear and an undertaking. He will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on March 5, 2009, to answer to the charges. 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