News Release

SIU Investigates Firearm Death

Case Number: 09-PFD-160   

Mississauga (4 July, 2009) --- Eight investigators, including three forensic investigators from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are probing the circumstances surrounding a police shooting involving the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Leeds County Detachment.

The SIU was notified that on Friday July 3, 2009 at approximately 11:00 p.m. the OPP were conducting a RIDE program on the Highway 401 off-ramp at County Road 29, Brockville. A pickup truck was stopped and an officer spoke with the adult male driver. The truck fled the scene and officers went after it. In the area of Forthton Road and Highway 29 the officers attempted to stop the truck by blocking it in. This resulted in a collision between the truck and OPP vehicles.

Officers interacted with the driver and at some point the truck struck an officer. Two officers discharged their firearms and the driver was struck at least once. The male was pronounced dead at the scene.

The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at
416-622-1965 or 1-800-787- 8529 extension #1965.

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