News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Long Sault Vehicle Death

Case Number: 07-PVD-137   

Other News Releases Related to Case 07-PVD-137

SIU Investigates Long Sault Vehicle Death

TORONTO (13 November, 2007) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers committed any criminal offence in relation to the death of a 29-year-old Cornwall man on July 19, 2007.

The SIU assigned three investigators, three forensic identification technicians and a collision reconstructionist to investigate this incident.

The SIU determined that at 1:30 a.m. on July 19, 2007, OPP officers were dispatched to a Long Sault home regarding a noise complaint. The officers dealt with the call and were still in the area when they noticed a man leave a home and get on a motorcycle.

The man started the motorcycle and rode north towards Moulinette Rd. The officers activated the roof lights on their marked cruiser because they suspected the motorcycle's driver may be impaired, but the motorcycle did not stop. They pursued the motorcycle north on Moulinette Rd. for a short distance before turning off the roof lights. The motorcycle continued northbound and they eventually lost sight of it.

Approximately one kilometre north of Highway 401, the officers found the motorcycle in a ditch. Jason Lacombe, the motorcycle's 29-year-old driver, had been thrown from the motorcycle and was lying seriously injured on the ground. The officers tended to him until EMS arrived. Mr. Lacombe was transported to hospital by ambulance, but later died of his injuries.

Director Cornish said, "There is no evidence that the officer interfered with the operation of the motorcycle. The officer's driving was not a marked departure from the standard of care one would expect from a prudent driver in the same situation and fell well within the limits prescribed by criminal law. Mr. Lacombe's unfortunate death cannot be attributed to any action or inaction on the part of the subject officer."

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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES