News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation of OPP-Involved Crash in Simcoe County
Case Number: 21-PVI-362
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a possible serious injury suffered by a 22-year-old driver after she was involved in a crash with an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser in Simcoe County last month.
On October 27, 2021, the woman was travelling north on County Road 27 and entered the intersection of Horseshoe Valley Road West when her vehicle was struck by an officer in a cruiser. The woman was taken to hospital and found to be free of serious injury.
Director Martino concluded that based on the absence of a serious injury, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to continue the investigation. Accordingly, the file has been closed.
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