News Release
No Grounds to Lay Charges in Relation to Manitoulin Island Shootout that Claimed the Lives of a Civilian and an OPP Officer
Case Number: 20-PFD-314
On November 19, 2020, 60-year-old Gary Brohman died in an exchange of gunfire with Constable Marc Hovingh of the Ontario Provincial Police. The shootout cost the officer his life as well. Notwithstanding the fact that Cst Hovingh had succumbed to his wounds, the SIU commenced an investigation as the incident included a death at the hands of a police officer. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that Cst Hovingh committed a criminal offence in connection with Mr. Brohman’s death.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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