NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION UNIT
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In the early morning hours of April 12, 2020, several Ontario Provincial Police officers were dispatched from the Nottawasaga detachment to investigate two men who were going in and out of vehicles in Angus.
When officers observed a truck which had been stolen, they briefly pursued the truck. Hearing radio transmission of the truck heading in her direction, an officer, of the Huronia West detachment, observed the truck and began pursuing it.
Shortly after, the driver lost control of the truck and crashed into a traffic control signal pole.
The 24-year-old driver was subsequently arrested and taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone.
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined the Huronia West detachment officer comported herself within the confines of the law as she briefly pursued the truck before the collision.
Accordingly, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case and the file is closed.
The SIU is an independent civilian agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
- report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.
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