News Release
SIU Concludes Sudbury Investigation
Case Number: 10-OVI-274
Other News Releases Related to Case 10-OVI-274
SIU Investigates Injury in Sudbury
SIU Continues Sudbury Investigation
Mississauga (9 March, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge any officers of the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) with a criminal offence in regards to the injuries sustained by a 27-year-old man when the van he was driving crashed into a building on December 22, 2010.
The SIU assigned four investigators and one accident re-constructionist to probe the circumstances surrounding this incident. One officer was designated as a subject officer and four officers were designated as witness officers. Two witness officers and two civilian witnesses were interviewed.
The SIU investigation determined that Mr. Spence was operating a taxicab that was not his on the day in question. The subject officer began a suspect apprehension pursuit of the vehicle after receiving information that the taxicab was stolen.. He activated his emergency equipment and stayed in contact with the communications centre. Mr. Spence was attempting to elude the police by driving quickly and disobeying traffic stops. The traffic was light. On Lorne Street south of Applegrove Street, Mr. Spence lost control of his vehicle and smashed it into a paint store, causing fractures to his left knee and right ankle.
Director Scott said, "The subject officer had the lawful authority to enter into a suspect apprehension pursuit because he had reason to believe the driver had committed a criminal act. Mr. Spence refused to stop once the subject officer activated his police vehicle’s emergency equipment. The subject officer conducted the pursuit in compliance with the regulations; he kept in touch with his communications centre and took the traffic conditions into consideration. In my view, Mr Spence was the author of his own misfortune when he lost control of the stolen taxicab causing serious injuries to himself. Accordingly, no criminal liability may attach to the actions of the subject officer."
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