News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into OPP Officer After Pedestrians Struck in Toronto
Case Number: 23-PVI-497
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-PVI-497
SIU Investigating After Two Pedestrians Struck by Fleeing SUV in Toronto
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 53-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman. On December 5, 2023, the officer was driving in the area of Highway 401 and Keele Street, en route to an unrelated call, when the driver of a Dodge Durango began to accelerate away before hitting a Honda Accord and two pedestrians in a crosswalk. The officer was not in pursuit of the vehicle at the time.
On this record, Director Martino concluded that other than perhaps being the unwitting impetus for the Durango driver’s ill-advised acceleration into an intersection against a red light, the officer did nothing wrong.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES