News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man Involved in Collision with Cruiser During Arrest in Thorold

Case Number: 24-OVI-353   

Mississauga, ON (13 May, 2025) ---
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe two Niagara Regional Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 27-year-old man in Thorold. On August 22, 2024, officers were pursuing the man for a hit and run in St. Catharines.

The man was arrested in Thorold and put in the back of the cruiser. He escaped and fled. Officers chased the man, and the man was involved in a collision with the cruiser. He attempted to flee again and was taken to the ground by an officer.

Director Joseph Martino concluded that whether the officer was attempting to block the man or merely stop his cruiser so he could exit and assist in the apprehension, he was unable to reasonably conclude that the officer transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law.

The man suffered multiple fractures of the left foot in the collision, and partial amputations of two left toes.

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.

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