News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man Fleeing Police Struck by OPP Pickup Truck in Innisfil Area

Case Number: 23-PVI-276   

Mississauga, ON (16 November, 2023) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 30-year-old man after he was struck by an unmarked police vehicle.

On July 19, 2023, officers attempted to arrest the man for drug trafficking. He fled in his vehicle. The man crashed his vehicle and, as tried to flee on foot, was struck by a pickup truck. Director Martino concluded, based on the evidence gathered, that the man would have only been briefly visible before the officer struck him and it was not at all clear that the collision was avoidable. 

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