News Release
No Criminal Charges After Youth Seriously Injured in Collision While Fleeing Police in Niagara Falls
Case Number: 24-OVI-342
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a Niagara Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in relation to serious injuries suffered by a 17-year-old girl in a collision. On August 14, 2024, the officer attempted to stop the vehicle for speeding when the driver fled on Thorold Stone Road in Niagara Falls. The car was later found to have been stolen.
Director Joseph Martino was satisfied the officer comported himself with due care and regard for public safety during his brief engagement with the Infiniti. The officer travelled at reasonable speeds, made use of his emergency equipment, stopped at the red light before making a safe left turn onto northbound Stanley Avenue, and was well back of the Infiniti when it lost control and crashed. On this record, there was no question of any want of care on the part of the officer contributing to the collision.
The youth, who was a passenger in the car, suffered spinal fractures and broken ribs in the collision.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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