News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Belleville Police Pursuit Preceding Collision
Case Number: 22-OVI-304
In the evening of November 27, 2022, a Belleville Police Service officer was working a spot check when a pick-up truck arrived at the spot check and initially came to a stop before it accelerated away. The officer alerted the officers of what had occurred, entered her cruiser, and chased after the pick-up truck. Shortly after, the pick-up truck collided into the rear end of another vehicle before travelling a further short distance and striking the wall of a business. The 35-year old driver of the pick-up truck exited the vehicle and fled on foot. He was located by officers and taken into custody. Following his arrest, the man was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured right wrist. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the pursuing officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s injury.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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