News Release
Due to no Serious Injury, SIU Terminates Investigation into Hamilton Motorcycle Collision
Case Number: 22-OVI-152
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a motorcycle collision that occurred last month in Hamilton.
On the morning of June 12, 2022, a 32-year-old man was unlawfully operating a motorcycle when he came to the attention of a Hamilton Police Service officer. The officer decided to follow the motorcycle. After a short period marked by slow speeds, the motorcyclist accelerate at speed north on Victoria Avenue North and then east on Barton Street East. Approaching Oak Street, the motorcyclist unsuccessfully attempted to overtake a vehicle, lost control of his motorcycle and crashed. He ran to get back on his bike to resume his flight but was prevented from doing so by the officer who placed the man under arrest without incident. Later at hospital, the man was diagnosed with a lacerated liver requiring no treatment or hospital admission.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary investigation, Director Martino was satisfied that the man did not suffer a ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s mandate. As the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the matter, 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