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SIU clears officer in St. Catharines collision

A 20-year-old man suffered spinal fractures after he crashed as he attempted to exit Highway 406 onto Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines
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NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
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On March 16, 2019, a 20-year-old man crashed his vehicle as he attempted to exit Highway 406 onto Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines. He suffered spinal fractures and required surgery, and his 21-year-old passenger sustained facial injuries.

Prior to the collision, an Ontario Provincial Police officer had briefly pursued the vehicle. 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 collision.

Full Director’s Report (with incident narrative, evidence, and analysis and director’s decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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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