News Release
Ontario Provincial Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 11-PSA-230
Mississauga (29 November, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in relation to an incident involving a woman. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer, a member of the Investigation and Organized Crime Command in the Kingston area.
The SIU was contacted on November 10, 2011, regarding a complaint of a sexual nature against the officer. An investigation was launched, and as a result of the findings, Detective Constable Phil Heymans is facing one charge of Sexual Assault, contrary to s. 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
D/Cst Heymans is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 279 Wellington Street in Kingston on January 10, 2012. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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