News Release
No Charges Against OPP Officer in Crash Involving Cruiser near Carleton Place
Case Number: 21-PVI-261
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-PVI-261
SIU Investigating Three-Vehicle Collision involving an OPP Cruiser
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 70-year-old woman after a vehicle she was in struck a police vehicle last August in Beckwith Township.
On August 16, 2021, the officer stopped at a stop sign while travelling north on Derry Side Road and slowly entered the intersection at 9th Line when his cruiser was struck by a male driver travelling westbound on 9th Line. The female passenger in the civilian vehicle was diagnosed with serious injuries, including a torn aorta.
Though responsible for the collision, Director Martino said he was satisfied there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law. Accordingly, 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=1723
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