News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Cyclist Injured in Collision with London Police Cruiser
Case Number: 23-OVI-501
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OVI-501
SIU Seeking Witnesses to London Collision Between Police Cruiser and Cyclist
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a London Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 54-year-old male cyclist. On December 7, 2023, the officer struck the cyclist while making a left-hand turn. The man was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured nose and left orbital bone.
Director Martino found it apparent that the officer was to blame for the collision. The cyclist had the right of way and it was incumbent on the officer to yield to the cyclist and not embark on her left turn until it was safe to do so. But Director Martino said he was not satisfied that the officer’s conduct amounted to a marked departure from a reasonable standard of care in the circumstances. The case law suggests that something more than an isolated or momentary lapse of care will ordinarily be required to attract criminal liability. He concluded that the conduct in question was the type of isolated lapse of attention that falls short of transgressing the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law.
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