News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Man’s Fall from Peterborough Bridge
Case Number: 22-OCI-171
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the injuries suffered by a 61-year-old man following his fall from a bridge into the Otonabee River in Peterborough.
On the evening of July 3, 2022, the man climbed the railing on the southside of the Hunter Street bridge near its centre, with the intention of taking his life. When a Peterborough Police Service officer came across the man, the officer attempted to dissuade him from jumping. This was to no avail, as a short time later, the man jumped into the river below. First responders found the man in the river and transported him to hospital where he was diagnosed with multiple rib fractures.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued at this time. The officer played no role in the matter other than to try to dissuade the man from taking his own life. As there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the officer was concerned, 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES