The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into the circumstances surrounding serious injuries sustained by a pedestrian during a traffic stop by Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) officers.
On March 31, 2022, the WPS advised the IIU of an incident that occurred at 8:05 p.m. that same day. According to the notification, WPS officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Notre Dame Avenue and Gertie Street. The driver exited the vehicle, and the passenger moved into the driver’s seat and attempted to flee the scene. In fleeing the scene, the vehicle struck a pedestrian who was walking on the north sidewalk on Notre Dame Avenue at Gertie Street. The driver subsequently lost control of the vehicle and was taken into custody. The pedestrian sustained a broken leg as a result of the collision.
As a broken leg is defined as a serious injury under the IIU regulations, the IIU was mandated to investigate. A team of IIU investigators was assigned to this investigation. The civilian director designated two WPS officers as witness officers. IIU investigators also interviewed the affected person and six civilian witnesses. Two additional civilian witnesses declined to speak with IIU investigators.
Information obtained and reviewed by IIU investigators included:
- WPS arrest reports
- computer-aided dispatch printouts
- WPS Forensic Identification Service reports and photographs
- dispatch audio transmissions
- reports and notes of various police officers
- WPS use of force report
- WPS recorded interviews of civilian witnesses
- audio recordings of WPS radio transmissions
- medical report respecting the affected person
- collision reconstructionist report
The civilian director found no evidence to support a finding that any WPS officer contributed to the cause of the collision and resulting serious injury.
The investigation is now complete and the matter is closed. As there are individuals who remain before the court on charges arising out of this incident, the civilian director’s report on the IIU investigation will be available following disposition of the charges.
The details of this investigation were first announced on April 5, 2022.
