News Release
SIU Ends Investigation After Man Seriously Injured in Straffordville Collision While Fleeing OPP Officer
Case Number: 23-PVI-304
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 a collision that caused serious injuries to a 58-year-old man in August.
On August 1, 2023, the officer attempted to pursue the man, who was behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi, for driving dangerously in the area of Plank Road. The officer initiated a pursuit, stopping when it was clear the driver was not going to stop. The driver continued fleeing police and crashed his car, where it flipped multiple times and he was ejected. The man was airlifted to hospital.
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