The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe three police officers with the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) committed criminal offences in relation to the injuries sustained by 45-year-old Craig MacInnes and 30-year-old Reid Purdy in June of 2014. Director Loparco has caused charges to be laid against the officers.
The SIU investigation determined that on June 18, 2014, OPS officers were conducting a training exercise at 886 March Road. When an incendiary device exploded, two Emergency Medical Service Tactical Paramedics were seriously injured.
As a result of the SIU investigation, OPS Sergeant Martin Rukavina, Constable Serge Clement and Constable Carl Grimard are each facing the following Criminal Code of Canada charges:
- Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to section 221
- Breach of Duty re Explosive Substance, contrary to section 80
The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 161 Elgin Street in Ottawa on September 8, 2015. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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.