News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation After Man Fell from Fleeing Stolen Car in London
Case Number: 23-OVI-459
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation after it was found no serious injuries were suffered by a 29-year-old man last November.
On November 5, 2023, the London Police Service contacted the SIU to report that a man was seriously injured during an attempted traffic stop by one of their officers.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, the man and his friend contacted the London Police Service to report his car was stolen and they followed the driver to a McDonalds on Oxford Street West. An officer arrived and parked their police vehicle in front of the stolen car.
The owner of the car jumped into an open passenger window of the stolen car in an unsuccessful attempt to grab the keys. The driver maneuvered around the police vehicle, sped away and the man was knocked from the open window to the pavement.
The man was taken to hospital and cleared of any serious injury, based on a review of his medical records. With there being no ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU mandate, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the incident. 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES