News Release
Durham Regional Police Service Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 11-OVI-119
Mississauga (29 July, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that an officer with the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) committed a criminal offence in connection with the injuries sustained by a 46-year-old motorcyclist late last month. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The DRPS contacted the SIU on June 30, 2011 and reported that an officer responding to a call had collided with a motorcycle on Taunton Road in Oshawa. As a result of the collision the motorcyclist sustained multiple fractures on his left side.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Constable Bradley Browne is facing one charge of Dangerous driving causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 249(3) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice, 150 Bond Street East, Oshawa, ON, on September 7, 2011. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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