News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Possible Serious Injuries Suffered by Man in Perth County Crash
Case Number: 21-PVI-423
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the possible serious injuries suffered by a 24-year-old man while fleeing police in a stolen pickup truck in Perth County in December.
In the evening of December 20, 2021, the Stratford Police Service notified the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment that the driver of a pickup truck they were pursuing was heading into their jurisdiction. OPP officers were dispatched to locate the truck. They deployed a tire deflation device and attempted to stop the vehicle. When the driver of the pickup truck continued to flee after hitting the tire deflation device, the officers were ordered to discontinue the pursuit. The driver later crashed into a ditch at 39 Line and Perth County Road 135. The man fled the wreckage and went to a farmhouse a short distance away. He was arrested and taken to hospital.
Investigators made multiple attempts were made to speak with the man, but he made clear he did not wish to participate in an SIU investigation, and he did not consent to a medical release for his patient records.
Director Martino concluded that as the man did not cooperate with the SIU investigation and left the SIU unable to confirm whether he had suffered a serious injury within the SIU’s mandate, the Unit was without statutory jurisdiction to continue the investigation. The file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES