News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into OPP Officer After Fatal Oro Station Crash
Case Number: 22-PVD-114
Other News Releases Related to Case 22-PVD-114
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 41-year-old man in April.
On April 19, 2022, an OPP officer pursued the man on Sideroad 15/16 as it was believed the man had committed a break and enter in the Huntsville area, and stole a police cruiser. The man travelled at a high rate of speed before hitting the ditch. He died in hospital from injuries suffered in the crash.
Director Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe the subject official transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law, leaving no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case. 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES