News Release

No Charges Warranted in Relation to Police Pursuit that Preceded Oshawa Collision

Case Number: 19-OVI-295   

Mississauga, ON (31 July, 2020) ---
In the morning of December 5, 2019, a Durham Regional Police Service officer was in the area of Simcoe Street South and Olive Avenue in Oshawa when he observed a reportedly stolen Lexus sedan. When the driver attempted to elude apprehension, the officer pursued the Lexus. A short time later, the Lexus broadsided a minivan at the Celina Street and Bruce Street intersection. As a result of the collision, the 63-year-old minivan driver suffered multiple rib fractures and dislocations and a collapsed lung. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the collision.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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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