News Release

News Release

Investigation Concluded into Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Vehicle Fleeing Police in Ottawa

Case Number: 23-OVD-111   

Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OVD-111

SIU Investigating after Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle in Ottawa
Update: Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle in Ottawa Passes Away

Mississauga, ON (29 January, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ottawa Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 46-year-old man in Ottawa last April.

On April 15, 2023, the man was struck by the driver of a car that was fleeing police at Kirkwood Avenue and Richmond Road. The man was taken to hospital where he died six days later. Officers were attempting to arrest the driver of the vehicle following a reported drug transaction. The pursuit was terminated by police when it was apparent the driver was not going to stop. The driver continued at speed, ran a red light, travelled on the wrong side of the road, and veered on to a crosswalk, striking the man.

Director Martino found it apparent that none of the officers involved transgressed the limits of care in the course of a brief pursuit that was discontinued prior to the collision that tragically took the life of the man.
 
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