News Release
No Charges Against OPP Officers After Man Seriously Injured in Snowmobile Crash in Belwood
Case Number: 22-PVI-021
Other News Releases Related to Case 22-PVI-021
SIU Investigating Serious Injuries Suffered by Man After Snowmobile Crash near Belwood Lake
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 21-year-old man in a snowmobile crash in Belwood in January. As OPP officers in a cruiser had briefly attempted to stop him moments before the collision, the SIU was notified and investigated.
On January 22, 2022, officers went across the Wellington Road 26 bridge to check on the status of the man and his snowmobile that was stuck. The man fled and officers pursued him for a matter of seconds before disengaging. The man continued and crashed into a hydro pole.
Director Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe that the subject officials transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law. The man was solely responsible for the collision and his injuries. The file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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