Police watchdog closes file over man’s jump from Orléans overpass

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The director of Ontario’s police watchdog agency has closed the investigation into the serious injuries of a 52-year-old man who was attempting to flee from an Ottawa Police Service officer in April.

A report posted Wednesday by the Special Investigations Unit said the unidentified man had stolen some items from a store in the Place d’Orléans shopping centre on April 20 and was running away from a store employee when the worker flagged down an officer in a police cruiser.

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The officer drove the vehicle towards the suspect, who then attempted to jump from an overpass at Champlain Street down to Highway 174.

The tumble fractured the man’s right ankle and a shoulder, the SIU report said, adding the police officer provided medical assistance and called for an ambulance.

Based on preliminary inquiries, the report from SIU director Joseph Martino said, “there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the officer’s potential criminal liability is concerned; it was apparent that she did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal liability in connection with the man’s fall.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police officers, special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or discharge of a firearm at a person.

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