News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Death of Man in Guelph Collision
Case Number: 23-OVD-392
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OVD-392
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe two Guelph Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 43-year-old man last September.
On September 23, 2023, officers pursued the man in their cruisers as they had reason to believe that the man, wanted on an arrest warrant, had a firearm. The man sped away in the pickup truck and ran a red light, hitting a car and another pickup truck.
Director Martino said the evidence indicates the officers went after the pickup truck at reasonably moderate speeds and were well behind the vehicle. He found no basis for proceeding with criminal charges.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES