News Release
SIU Investigates Explosion in Martintown, Ontario
Case Number: 08-PCI-105
On June 9, 2008 at approximately 9 a.m., OPP officers responded to a 9-1-1 call at a house on Beaverbrook Road where a man was threatening suicide and warning that he would burn down the house. As two officers entered the residence, an explosion occurred, engulfing the residence.
The 27-year-old suspect was airlifted to hospital in Ottawa and later transferred by air ambulance to a medical facility in Quebec City where he remains in critical condition with severe burns to his body. The two OPP officers are also in hospital - one in Ottawa, the other in Cornwall - where they are being treated for their injuries. They are reported in stable condition. Two other OPP officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
Eight SIU investigators, including three forensic experts, are on scene working with the Office of the Fire Marshal and members of the OPP.
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