News Release
Investigation into Man’s Self-Inflicted Death in Kingsville Completed
Case Number: 23-POD-062
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-POD-062
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 19-year-old man after he drove his vehicle into a Kingsville waterway. On February 28, 2023, the man drove into the water at Cedar Island Drive as the OPP officer approached the vehicle he was attempting to locate. Director Martino concluded there was little the officer could do to prevent the man from entering the water and a rescue attempt would have been dangerous given the conditions.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES