News Release

SIU Appeals for Witnesses in Ottawa Investigation

Case Number: 09-OCI-103   

Other News Releases Related to Case 09-OCI-103

Ottawa Police Officer Charged
SIU Probes Incident in Ottawa

Mississauga (10 June, 2009) --- Four investigators from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) are continuing the investigation into an incident that occurred Monday afternoon at the Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

On May 11, 2009 at approximately 4:25 p.m. a Grey Nissan X-Terra SUV and a West Way taxicab were travelling south on the Airport Parkway from the area of Brookfield Drive. The SUV followed the taxicab into the taxi holding area at the airport. The driver of the SUV, an off-duty Ottawa Police Service (OPS) officer, and the driver of the taxicab got out of their respective vehicles and got into a physical altercation. The taxi driver was injured. As a result the SIU has taken jurisdiction of the investigation.

The SIU is appealing for witnesses and is asking for anyone who saw the SUV and the taxicab on the Airport Parkway during the time in question or anyone who witnessed the physical interaction at the airport to contact the lead investigator at 416 641 1867 or 1 800 787 8529 extension #1867.

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