News Release
Investigation Concluded into Two People Hurt in Collision After Fleeing Police in Saugeen Shores
Case Number: 23-OVI-455
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Saugeen Shores Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by two people after their car struck a tree last November. As the vehicle had been pursued by an officer moments before the collision, the SIU was notified and investigated.
On November 2, 2023, the officer attempted to stop the driver of the car after he noticed the windshield was damaged. The officer stopped his pursuit when the driver took off at high rate of speed. The officer came upon the collision well after it occurred and aided the car’s occupants, as well as called for EMS. The driver, a 20-year-old man, was diagnosed with a scalp laceration, pulmonary hemorrhage of the right lung, and a broken nose. The driver’s side passenger, an 18-year-old female, suffered a fractured left femur.
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