News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Grey County Firearm Injury Investigation

Case Number: 11-PFD-033   

Mississauga (28 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 Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Grey Detachment with a criminal offence in regards to the death of 61-year-old David Cameron of Chatsworth in February. The SIU assigned four investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of this incident.

The SIU investigation determined that on February 21, 2011 OPP officers became involved in a suspect apprehension pursuit of a pick up truck being driven by Mr. Cameron. Mr. Cameron was wanted in connection with a shooting incident earlier in the evening in Owen Sound. During the pursuit a spike belt was deployed by the police. After running over the spike belt, Mr. Cameron’s truck came to a halt on a farm property off the Taylor Side Road near Kemble. Mr. Cameron exited his truck in possession of a long gun. The subject officer and two witness officers ordered Mr. Cameron to drop his weapon. Mr. Cameron ignored these commands and pointed his rifle at one of the witness officers. The subject officer discharged his service pistol at Mr. Cameron several times and simultaneously, one witness officer discharged his rifle at Mr. Cameron. Mr. Cameron sustained a minor gunshot injury after being struck by one shot fired by the subject officer. Mr. Cameron then fled into a wooded area. About fifteen to twenty seconds later the officers heard a single gun shot from the wooded area. Mr. Cameron was found dead by OPP officers at 8:35 p.m.

Director Scott said, "All of the involved officers had the lawful authority to engage in an apprehension of Mr. Cameron after being impressed with credible information that he had discharged his firearm at another individual and was fleeing from the scene. Both the subject officer and witness officer had the lawful authority to discharge their firearms at Mr. Cameron after he ignored their commands to drop his weapon, and then pointed his firearm at the witness officer. Mr. Cameron withdrew from the officers to a split rail fence at the west edge of the farm’s laneway where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This action was confirmed during the post mortem."

Director Scott concluded, "Clearly, Mr. Cameron took his own life, an act not related to any weapons discharge by the involved officers. As previously mentioned, the two officers had the lawful authority to discharge their firearms at Mr. Cameron. Accordingly, no criminal liability may attach to the actions of the subject officer with respect to this incident."

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

SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES