Chatham-Kent officer lawfully executing duties during high-speed pursuit, SIU concludes

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Chatham Kent officer lawfully executing duties during high speed pursuit SIU concludes

Ontario’s police watchdog has concluded a Chatham-Kent police officer was lawfully executing his duties during a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds of 166 km/h that ended in a crash that left a Blenheim woman injured.

A Chatham-Kent police officer has been cleared of any wrongdoing in connection to the pursuit of this vehicle that crashed on Kent Bridge Road, between Ridge Line and Talbot Trail (Highway 3) on Sept. 23, 2021, causing a 27-year- old Blenheim woman to suffer a dislocated hip. This photo is part of a report by the Special Investigations Unit that was posted online.

Ontario’s police watchdog has concluded a Chatham-Kent police officer was lawfully executing his duties during a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds of 166 kilometers per hour that ended in a crash that left a Blenheim woman injured.

The collision, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) release said, occurred when a police officer, responding to a 911 call about a home invasion in progress, saw a stopped vehicle suddenly accelerated away just after midnight on Sept. 23, 2001.

While being pursued by the officer, the driver entered the gravel shoulder on Kent Bridge Road and lost control of his vehicle, rolling over a few times, the release said.

While the driver fled, two women remained inside the vehicle, the SIU said. The officer helped the two women and called for paramedics. The investigation suggested that one of the women suffered a dislocated hip that later required surgery.

SIU director Joseph Marino stated in his decision the subject officer was in the lawful execution of his duties when he decided to pursue the vehicle.

“By that time, the officer was aware the home invaders had fled the residence traveling eastbound in a vehicle,” Martino said.

In this circumstance, with the driver of the vehicle deciding to speed away from the subject officer, that officer had grounds to believe the driver and the vehicle’s passengers were freshly fleeing from the scene of the crime.

Martino’s report stated he is satisfied the subject officer “demonstrated due care and regard for public safety” throughout the pursuit.

Although speeds reached as high as 166 km/h – more than twice the 80 km/h speed limit – Martino noted the officer was traveling on a straight road in good repair with little traffic while his emergency light and sirens were on.

“Finally, there is no evidence that the officer’s speed directly imperilled other users of the roadway,” Martino said.

The sIU is an independent civilian oversight agency that investigates police conduct when there has been a death, serious injury, an allegation of sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

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