News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Man’s Fall While Fleeing Ottawa Police
Case Number: 24-OCI-173
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a 52-year-old man’s serious injuries while fleeing an Ottawa Police Service officer in April.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on April 20, 2024, the man was running north toward the Champlain Street bridge over Highway 174. He stole items from a store at the Place d’Orléans mall and was running from an employee. The staff member flagged down an officer in a cruiser. The officer drove toward to man. He saw the cruiser and jumped to the ground below, fracturing his right ankle and shoulder. The officer provided assistance to the man and called an ambulance.
On this record, there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the officer’s potential criminal liability is concerned; it was apparent that she did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal liability in connection with the man’s fall. As such, 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