Ontario’s police watchdog has charged a Woodstock police officer after a cyclist was seriously injured during an interaction with police three months ago.
const. Pritpal Thind is charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in the June 15 incident, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said Friday.
“As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation,” the SIU said in a statement.
A Woodstock police officer observed a 39-year-old man, who matched the description of a person of interest, riding a bike near Roth Park around 3:30 am, the SIU said.
The officer tried to “engage” the man, who fell from his bike before he was arrested and was taken to the hospital, where he was determined he suffered a serious injury, the SIU said.
The watchdog assigned three investigators and appealed for witnesses or anyone with video of the incident to contact them.
The civilian agency investigates all cases of serious injury, death, police-involved gunfire and allegations of sexual assault involving police officers in Ontario.
It’s unclear whether Thind, who is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 27, has been suspended or remains on active duty. Woodstock police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
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Thind, a graduate of York University, has been an officer in Woodstock since January 2020 and also works as a public affairs officer for the Royal Canadian Navy, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Think is the second police officer in Southwestern Ontario to be criminally charged by the SIU this year. In January, the watchdog charged OPP Const. Sean O’Rourke, 54, with manslaughter in the July 7, 2021, shooting death of Nicholas Edward Grieves of Brantford. O’Rourke’s case returns to court on Nov. 14.