Ontario’s police watchdog has found no grounds to charge two South Bruce OPP officers following an investigation into a man’s injuries during an attempted arrest in April.
The Special Investigations Unit determined that the 38-year-old sustained serious injuries after driving a stolen pickup truck into a ditch while trying to escape police in a field near Westford on April 2.
Investigators said officers were attempting to arrest the man in connection with an alleged carjacking and several vehicle thefts in the Stratford area. During his attempt to evade arrest, he reportedly drove through a field at speeds reaching about 110 km/h before crashing, suffering multiple broken ribs and a spinal fracture.
SIU Director Joseph Martino concluded there was no evidence that officers engaged in a police pursuit or used unnecessary force during the arrest. The investigation also found the man’s injuries resulted from the crash itself, leading the SIU to clear both officers of any wrongdoing.