NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
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In the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2018, Niagara Regional Police Service officers were dispatched to the Burgoyne Bridge after receiving reports of an individual who was threatening to jump from the bridge.
When the first officer arrived at the scene, an 18-year-old female ran away, and the officer gave chase. When the female climbed over the bridge railing, the officer grabbed her to prevent her from falling.
After a brief struggle, the female was able to push herself away from the officer, falling to a grassy area below. The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the officer in relation to the woman’s fall.
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.
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