News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Teenager’s Fall from Ancaster Overpass
Case Number: 22-OCI-175
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the injuries suffered by a 17-year-old male in July following his fall from an overpass in Ancaster.
At approximately 1:30 a.m. on July 8, 2022, a Hamilton Police Service officer, while on patrol in a police cruiser, came across a teenager who was walking shoeless in the middle of Golf Links Road over Highway 403. The teenager was not of sound mind at the time. Concerned for his safety, the officer flashed his vehicle’s high beams at the teenager, who reacted by moving north onto the sidewalk. As the officer drove by and asked if he was okay, the teenager said he was and then jumped over the Golf Links Road overpass railing. He fell onto a grassy area west of the highway, fracturing his left leg in the process and suffering a collapsed lung.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino determined that the teenager was the sole author of his misadventure that night. As there was 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