News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation in Colborne

Case Number: 09-PCD-094   

Mississauga (2 July, 2009) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Ian Scott has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers from the Brighton Detachment committed a criminal offence in relation to the April death of a Colborne man.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators from the SIU were assigned to probe the circumstances of this occurrence.

The SIU investigation determined that shortly after midnight on April 26, 2009, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) went to a third floor apartment on King Street regarding a 9 1 1 call. While conducting their investigation the officers determined that 20 year old Cody Wilkins of Colborne had jumped out of the apartment window. Officers found Mr. Wilkins outside on the ground below the apartment window. Mr. Wilkins was taken to Northumberland Hills Hospital where he later died.

Director Scott said, "The two subject officers were dispatched to a disturbance call. They were initially refused entry into the apartment, but were eventually admitted. Mr. Wilkins was in the apartment when the police arrived and took it upon himself to jump out of the apartment's window in an attempt to escape apprehension by them. There is no suggestion that the subject officers had anything to do with Mr. Wilkins's act of perilously jumping from the window. Accordingly, no criminality attaches to the officers's acts."

5090 Commerce Boulevard/5090, boulevard Commerce, Mississauga, ON L4W 5M4
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The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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