News Release
SIU Charges Waterloo Police Officer in Relation to Pursuit in Brantford
Case Number: 23-OVI-021
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OVI-021
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe an off-duty Waterloo Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in relation to a serious injury suffered by a 25-year-old man following a pursuit in Brantford last January.
The SIU investigation found that on the evening of January 17, 2023, the officer, driving a non-police vehicle, pursued the man who fled in a minivan. The man crashed into a tree in the area of Dunsdon Street and Winding Way. The man was arrested and diagnosed with a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst Andrew Polidori is charged with one count of dangerous driving, contrary to section 320.13(1), under the Criminal Code.
Cst Polidori is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 44 Queen Street in Brantford on October 27, 2023, at 9 a.m.
As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation.
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