News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation in West Lorne
Case Number: 07-PVI-019
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) notified the SIU that at approximately 5:03 p.m. on January 17th, an OPP officer from the Elgin County detachment saw a vehicle and started to follow it as part of an ongoing investigation. At the intersection of Crinan Line and Colley Road, the driver lost control and the car rolled over onto its roof. The 41-year-old male driver was believed to have suffered multiple fractures and was taken to Four Counties Health Sciences Centre.
Five SIU investigators were assigned to investigate the nature and extent of police involvement in the circumstances surrounding the collision. As part of the probe, investigators interviewed the driver of the vehicle and determined that he did not suffer any serious injuries. As a result, SIU Director James Cornish stated, "Given that the man did not suffer any serious injuries, the SIU investigation into this incident has been terminated."
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