News Release

No Charges Warranted in City of Kawartha Lakes Death Case

Case Number: 16-OOD-118   

Mississauga, ON (5 October, 2017) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against a Kawartha Lakes Police Service officer in relation to the death of an 89-year-old woman on May 15, 2016. The woman’s death came several days after her interaction with police during a traffic stop.
The Director’s Report was delivered to the Attorney General, as is required by law under the Police Services Act. The Attorney General has directed that the document be posted online. It can be found at /en/directors_report_details.php?drid=3424

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

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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES