News Release

OPP Officer Charged in Kenora Vehicle Death

Case Number: 12-PVD-276   

Mississauga (8 November, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the death of 42-year-old Gloria Assin in a September 2012 incident in Kenora.  Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.   
  
The SIU investigation determined that on September 23, 2012, at approximately 2:00 a.m., OPP officers were transporting Ms. Assin to the Kenora detachment.  At Highway 17A and Redditt Road, there was a collision between the marked cruiser and a tractor trailer.  Ms. Assin died as a result of the collision.
  
As a result of the SIU investigation, OPP Constable Troy Bender is facing one charge of Dangerous Driving Causing Death, contrary to s. 249(4) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

The officer is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 216 Water Street in Kenora on December 20, 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 (police officers as well as 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