KENORA – Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding an interaction that occurred between a 48-year-old man and an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer last month in Kenora.
The preliminary information suggests the following:
- At approximately 3:30 a.m. on December 16, 2018, an OPP officer observed a vehicle travelling on Highway 17.
- As a result of the officer’s interest in the vehicle, the driver pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant located at the intersection of Highway 17 and River Drive.
- Following an interaction between the man and officer, the man was arrested and transported to the OPP Kenora detachment.
- When the man complained of pain, he was transported to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
At this time, two investigators have been assigned to this incident. One subject officer and eight witness officers have been designated.
Witness Assistance
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 ext 1886. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.
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.
