News Release
SIU Investigates Shooting in Stratford
Case Number: 08-OFI-097
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OFI-097
SIU Concludes Investigation into Police Shooting at Avondale Cemetery in Stratford
At approximately 3:30 a.m., police searched the Avondale Cemetery after receiving information from members of a family about their missing father. During a confrontation with one officer, 46-year-old David George Wilson of Stratford was shot once. He was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Victoria Hospital in London where he is in stable condition awaiting surgery. His wound is described as non-life threatening. A knife was recovered at the scene of the shooting.
The SIU has assigned five investigators and three forensic investigators. They have designated one subject officer, who will be interviewed next week; two witness officers have been interviewed. While SIU investigators have canvassed the immediate area around Avondale Cemetery, they continue to appeal to anyone who might have seen or heard anything between approximately 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. May 29th, to call the SIU at 1-800-787-8529.
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