News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Woodstock Collision
Case Number: 24-OVI-015
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 30-year-old man in Woodstock in January.
In the afternoon of January 13, 2024, the man was asleep in a pick-up truck stopped with its engine running on Bexley Street in Woodstock. Concerned about the driver’s wellbeing, a citizen contacted police to report the matter. A Woodstock Police Service officer arrived on scene, exited his cruiser and walked to the driver’s door. He managed to rouse the man, who reacted by putting his vehicle in drive and accelerating away westbound on Dundas Street. Shortly thereafter, the man lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the southside ditch of Dundas Street in the area of Zorra & East Zorra Tavistock Line. He was transported to hospital and reportedly diagnosed with fractured ribs.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued at this time. The officer had not engaged the man in a pursuit and was nowhere near him when he crashed. On this record, it was patently obvious that there was nothing to investigate regarding the officer’s potential criminal liability in connection with the collision. 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES