News Release

News Release

SIU Investigates Pursuit in Ottawa

Case Number: 08-OVI-111   

Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OVI-111

SIU Concludes Investigation into Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle in Ottawa

Mississauga (20 June, 2008) --- Shortly after 2:30 a.m. this date, officers of the Ottawa Police Service attempted to stop a reported stolen vehicle at Heron Road and Baycrest Street. The vehicle went out of control about half a kilometre away on Altavista Drive where it struck a marked cruiser; a second police vehicle, a K-9 Unit, was not damaged. The officer involved in the collision suffered minor injuries. A 21-year-old man was treated for a broken wrist, cuts and bruises and released into the custody of the Ottawa Police. Criminal charges in connection with the stolen vehicle investigation being conducted by the Ottawa Police are pending.

The SIU has assigned five investigators, including two forensic experts, to probe the sequence of events leading up to the collision between the police cruiser and the suspect vehicle. A total of five Ottawa Police officers have been designated by the SIU - two as subject officers and three as witness officers - to be interviewed as part of its overall investigation.

The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 1-800-787-8529.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES