News Release
No Charges in Fatal Motorcycle Crash in St. Catharines
Case Number: 21-OVD-163
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OVD-163
SIU Investigating Fatal Mini-Motorcycle Collision in St. Catharines
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Niagara Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a 20-year-old man’s death in a motorcycle collision in St. Catharines last May.
On May 25, 2021, a Niagara Regional Police Service officer initiated a pursuit of the man as his motorcycle was improperly plated and he was not wearing a helmet. Moments following the pursuit, the man crashed his motorcycle and was pronounced dead in hospital.
Director Martino found no basis for proceeding with criminal charges against the officer in this unfortunate accident, and the file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1565
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES