News Release
SIU Lays Charges Against Sarnia Police Officer in Sexual Assault Investigation
Case Number: 21-OSA-174
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Sarnia Police Service officer committed criminal offences in relation to incidents that reportedly occurred between March 2018 and June 2021.
On June 4, 2021, the SIU was contacted by the Sarnia Police Service regarding a complaint of alleged sexual assaults that had occurred against a woman by a police officer. The SIU launched an investigation.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst. Christopher Noordam is charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of breach of trust by an official contrary to sections 271 and 122 of the Criminal Code, respectively.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 700 N. Christina Street in Sarnia on September 15, 2021
As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation.
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