News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Port Hope Officer Who Shot Gun at Stolen Truck
Case Number: 23-OFP-300
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OFP-300
SIU Investigating Firearm Discharge by Port Hope Police Officer
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a Port Hope Police Service officer who fired her gun at a stolen pickup truck in July.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on July 30, 2023, officers went to a McDonalds drive through on Rose Glen Road after receiving information that a stolen vehicle and man wanted by police was there. Officers aimed to arrest the 29-year-old driver by blocking him in with their vehicles and directing him to turn off the engine. The man attempted to flee officers in the truck. As the driver passed an officer, she took aim at the driver’s side wheel and shot her firearm. The bullet ricocheted off the wheel and struck her in the face. Based on video footage and utterances made by another officer in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, it established the officer fired in the direction of the wheel, not the driver. As such, it does not appear that the matter falls within the SIU’s statutory jurisdiction. This matter has been referred to the police service for investigation as they deem necessary.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES