News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Circumstances Surrounding Ottawa Collision
Case Number: 21-OVI-369
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a collision in Ottawa last month that resulted in injuries to a 26-year-old man.
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on October 30, 2021, a man driving a Toyota Corolla was involved in a minor motor vehicle collision in the area of George Street and Dalhousie Street. The man was arrested at the scene for driving under the influence of alcohol. When the man’s brother and an acquaintance arrived on scene, the officer authorized the release of the vehicle to the acquaintance, on the condition that he drive the vehicle as the brother was impaired. This was done instead of having the car impounded pursuant to provisions of the Highway Traffic Act and police policy. At about 7 a.m., the brother was involved in a single motor vehicle collision, in the same vehicle, at the intersection of Lorry Greenberg Drive and Hunt Club Road. He was taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.
The SIU was notified of the man’s injuries and invoked its mandate on the premise of a possible criminal breach of a duty of care.
Director Martino concluded that given the passage of time, and the fact that the acquaintance had driven the brother home from the scene of the first collision, it was plain and obvious that officer’s decision to release the car was too remote to be the foundation of any liability in criminal negligence. 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES