News Release
SIU Terminates Erin Investigation
Case Number: 18-PCI-316
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into an interaction that occurred in Erin between OPP officers and a 58-year-old man in March of 2018. The SIU was notified of this incident on October 26, 2018.
On March 24, 2018, Ontario Provincial Police officers were dispatched after receiving a report of a domestic situation. OPP officers located a vehicle of interest on 10th Line, and attempted to stop the driver. The driver fled and the police followed. A short time later, the driver pulled his vehicle over, and when he exited, he became involved in an interaction with police. The man was subsequently arrested and taken to hospital for assessment.
Director Loparco said, “SIU investigators made multiple attempts to conduct an interview with the man via telephone and in person over a period of approximately three months. As the man failed to provide the SIU with a statement or otherwise participate in an investigation, and because consent to obtain medical records was not authorized by the man I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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