News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Concussion Suffered in OPP Cruiser in Leamington
Case Number: 24-PVI-456
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the concussion suffered by a 45-year-old woman. On October 18, 2024, the woman was arrested at a residence in relation to a domestic disturbance.
While en route to the OPP detachment in Leamington, the officer braked hard to come to a stop for an amber light. The abrupt stop sent the woman, handcuffed, lurching forward, her face striking the partition of the cruiser. The woman did not have her seat belt on.
Director Joseph Martino was unable to reasonably conclude that the officer’s indiscretions amounted to a marked departure from a reasonable standard of care, still less a marked and substantial one.
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