News Release

News Release

No Basis to Criminally Charge Hamilton Officer in Relation to Collision with Man

Case Number: 24-OVI-350   

Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OVI-350

SIU Investigating After Man Struck by Cruiser in Hamilton
Notice of Correction to Director’s Report

Mississauga, ON (19 December, 2024) ---
In the early morning of August 21, 2024, two Hamilton Police Service officers, having concluded a service call in the area, made their way in separate vehicles to a school parking lot to update their notes. The school was located at the northeast corner of Bold Street and Bay Street South. Shortly after one of the officers entered the parking lot, he sensed an obstruction under his cruiser. Bringing his vehicle to a stop, the officer exited to find a man under the front carriage of the cruiser. The officer re-entered his vehicle and reversed, freeing the man. The 40-year-old man had suffered cuts on the left forehead and near the left eye, and road rash. He was transported to hospital and reportedly diagnosed with a lacerated liver. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s injuries.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES