News Release

News Release

SIU Terminates Investigation into Woman’s Possible Injury During Traffic Stop in Cambridge

Case Number: 24-OVI-349   

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SIU Investigating After Hospitalization of Woman Involved in Collision in Cambridge

Mississauga, ON (11 December, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a 53-year-old woman who possibly suffered a serious injury in a collision following an attempted traffic stop by a Waterloo Regional Police Service officer in August.

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on August 21, 2024, just after midnight, an officer in a marked cruiser saw the driver of a GMC Yukon run a red light at the King Street East and Highway 401 off-ramp in Cambridge. The officer followed the vehicle intending to stop it for a traffic infraction.  At the intersection of Shantz Hill Road and Fountain Street South, less than 700 metres from the highway off-ramp, the officer activated his emergency lights and watched the Yukon maneuver across Fountain Street South into a parking lot. It had crashed against boulders that lined the perimeter of the parking lot.  The driver of the Yukon explained that her brakes had failed and she was unable to stop. She was taken to hospital and found to have not suffered any serious injury.  As such, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction in this case. It was apparent there were no grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the matter.  The video footage makes clear that he operated his cruiser safely at all times. The file has been closed. 

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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