News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Barrie Collision Death
Case Number: 09-OCD-218
The SIU assigned eight investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this occurrence.
The SIU investigation determined that on August 25, 2009, the subject officer received information that a yellow Mitsubishi was being driven with improper plates. At approximately 3:30 p.m., he stopped a vehicle fitting that description on Ferndale Drive South, just south of Dunlop Street West in the city of Barrie. However, the young driver refused to identify himself and sped away southbound on Ferndale Drive, toward Tiffin Street. The officer began a pursuit with emergency equipment activated. During this time, the driver was observed committing several driving infractions. A short time later, the youth entered the Ferndale Drive and Essa Road intersection and collided with the vehicle of Steven Tuck of Barrie. Mr. Tuck was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Director Stewart said, "The subject officer was in pursuit of the Mitsubishi for approximately three minutes from the time of the initial stop to shortly before the collision at Essa Road. During this time, he reached significant speeds but also slowed down considerably at the Tiffin Street intersection and again approaching the Essa Rd intersection. The roads were dry and in good repair, and the traffic conditions were initially heavy but lighter as the vehicles moved south of Tiffin Street. While the pursuit route went through a marked school zone, the pedestrian traffic of school aged children was negligible due to the summer vacation break.
"The subject officer had the lawful authority to initiate the pursuit pursuant to the 'Suspect Apprehension Pursuits' section of the Police Services Act, as the driver refused to identify himself, and because the improper license plate markers made it difficult to identify the vehicle. Further, the officer may have reasonably apprehended that the vehicle was stolen, affording him another ground to engage in the pursuit. There is no suggestion of contact between the pursuing and pursued vehicles. As well, the officer had the authority to enter into the pursuit, and the authority to exceed the speed limit pursuant to s. 128(13)(b) of the Highway Traffic Act because he was acting in the lawful performance of his duties."
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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