News Release
SIU Discontinues Chatsworth Investigation as Fractured Clavicle not Caused by Police
Case Number: 23-PCI-338
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 34-year-old woman in August in Chatsworth.
In the morning of August 20, 2023, the woman, while feeling the effects of fentanyl withdrawal, crashed the vehicle she was operating in a ditch at the intersection of Grey-Bruce Line and Concession 8, Chatsworth. She exited the vehicle armed with a firearm and attempted to carjack a pick-up truck. When that did not work, and she was dispossessed of the firearm by the pick-up truck driver, the woman fled into a cornfield and hid. About two-and-a-half hours later, the woman was located and arrested by Ontario Provincial Police officers responding to the scene. The woman suffered a minor injury as a result of being bit by a police dog, and she suffered a fractured clavicle as a result of the crash.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, it was apparent that the woman’s fractured clavicle was not caused by a police officer. As such, the SIU was without jurisdiction to continue the investigation. The file has been closed.
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