News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation in Durham
Case Number: 11-OCI-067
Mississauga (13 May, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge any officer of the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) with a criminal offence in regards to the injury sustained by a 20-year-old man in April of this year.
The SIU assigned three investigators and three forensic investigators to the case. The scene was photographed and the area was mapped out. Two officers were designated as subject officers. Both officers consented to interviews with the SIU. One officer was designated as a witness officer and interviewed. Ten civilian witnesses were interviewed.
The SIU investigation determined that on April 24, 2011, Mr. Omar Chaudhary was stopped by police on the Harwood Avenue overpass at Highway 401 for a suspected Highway Traffic Act offence. As one of the subject officers approached Mr. Chaudhary he fled on foot and jumped over a two metre high cement abutment on the side of Harwood Avenue. He landed 11 metres below on the westbound acceleration lane of Hwy 401. The officer tried to grab Mr. Chaudhary immediately before he leapt, but was unsuccessful in holding him back. Accordingly, on the basis of the investigation, the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that Mr. Chaudhary was responsible for this perilous act leading to his sustaining a fractured pelvis, left wrist and right heel as well as possible injury to his vertebrae. Director Scott concluded, "As a result of the facts found in this investigation, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the subject officers committed a criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by Mr. Chaudhary, on April 24, 2011."
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