Ontario's police watchdog clears Windsor officer after cruiser hit cyclist in April
SIU claims cyclist, who suffered multiple fractures, failed to check for approaching traffic
Ontario's police watchdog says it found "no reasonable grounds" to believe a Windsor officer committed a criminal offence after a cyclist was injured when a fully marked Ford Explorer cruiser hit his bicycle.
The collision happened around 1:40 p.m. ET on April 6 while the officer was en route to another call in the area of Glengarry Avenue and Assumption Street, just east of the downtown core.
"He made a left turn to go eastbound on to Assumption Street and collided with a cyclist, the complainant, who had entered on to Assumption Street from a private pathway," according to an online report from the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The SIU says a 46-year-old man suffered fractures to his left clavicle, left finger, left rib and hip. At the time of the collision, the injuries were described as "serious, but non-life threatening."
SIU director Joseph Martino concluded the collision appeared to stem from the cyclist failing to check for approaching traffic before entering traffic from the alley.
Tire marks from the police cruiser were found on the road, and the vehicle had minor damage to the front passenger side corner and headlight — with some black scuff marks on the hood and some dents, according to the report.
The bicycle was a black Raleigh mountain bike. The SIU says it had damage to the front wheel and spokes. It was found in the middle of the road on its right side, about three metres east of the cruiser, near the south curb of the intersection.
The report stated video footage in the area showed the complainant landing on the hood of the cruiser, then falling from it while being launched several metres east on to the pavement.
Martino said the officer had only travelled a short distance from the police station before the collision happened.
"During that brief period, there is no indication of any substandard driving behaviour by the officer," he said.
"Rather, the collision seems the unfortunate result of the complainant failing to check for approaching traffic."
The SIU, an independent government agency, investigates police conduct that results in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at an individual.
In the Windsor case involving the cruiser and the cyclist, the agency's investigative team was comprised of seven people.
With files from Bob Becken and Emma Loop