News Release
SIU Clears OPP Officers Who Fatally Shot Haliburton Man
Case Number: 20-PFD-173
On July 15, 2020, Leslie Hegedus passed away following an exchange of gunfire with two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in Dysart, Ontario. The two officers – SO #1 and SO #2 – were identified as subject officers for purposes of the SIU investigation. The Director of the SIU, Joseph Martino, has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe that either SO #1 or SO #2 acted other than lawfully throughout this incident. Accordingly, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, and the file is closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1392
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
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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES