OPP absolved in Mattawa man's injuries

NEWS RELEASE

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT

*************************** Special Investigations Unit concludes investigation into North Bay man's injuries TORONTO - (September 17) - The director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer involved with a 23-year-old North Bay man in Mattawa in July 2007 committed a criminal offence.

The SIU investigation has determined that on July 29, 2007, two officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were working at a community festival in Mattawa.

They were told by a festival-goer that there was a man hiding in some nearby bushes.

They went to investigate and when they found the man they asked him what he was doing.

The man immediately ran from them and dove off a dock into the shallow waters of the Ottawa River.

When the officers got to the dock they saw the man floating face down in the river.

One of the officers jumped in and immediately provided assistance to the man while the other officer called for an ambulance.

The man was eventually removed from the river by ambulance personnel and taken to hospital for treatment. Director Cornish concluded, "In my view there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence."

The director further commented that there was no physical contact between the man and the two officers prior to him diving into the river.

He added, "The evidence reveals that the officer's actions after the man dove into the water likely saved his life."

The SIU is a civilian government agency that investigates circumstances involving police and civilians, which have resulted in serious injury or death.

Under Section 113 of the Police Services Act, the director of the SIU has the authority to decide whether or not charges are warranted based on the findings of an investigation.

The director's decision is reported to the attorney general.

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