Officer 'largely responsible' for collision, but no criminal charges: SIU

NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
******************************
MISSISSAUGA - On April 3, 2019, there was a collision between a snowmobile and an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser on Highway 101 in Wawa. The snowmobile operator was transported to hospital where he was treated for multiple fractures of his left leg. While Director Joseph Martino has no doubt that the officer was driving dangerously in the moments before the collision, and that his dangerous driving was largely responsible for what occurred, he is of the view that the evidence falls just short of justifying criminal charges against the officer.

Full director’s report (with incident narrative, evidence, and analysis and director’s decision) can be read here. 

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must:
    •    consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence  in connection with the incident under investigation
    •    depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
    •    report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.

******************************