SIU Called In After Early-Morning Incident in the Market
Ottawa's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating after a man was critically injured during a police chase in the ByWard Market early Sunday morning.
According to Ottawa Police Service, officers responded to a call at a ByWard Market business at approximately 3:30 a.m. What followed led to a pursuit that ended with a man suffering critical injuries — serious enough to trigger mandatory notification of the SIU, Ontario's independent civilian oversight body that investigates incidents involving police where someone has been seriously hurt, killed, or sexually assaulted.
What Is the SIU?
The Special Investigations Unit is an arm's-length agency of the Ontario government that operates independently of police forces. Whenever an officer is directly involved in an incident resulting in serious injury or death, the SIU is automatically notified and takes over the investigation.
In cases like this, Ottawa Police are required to cooperate fully with SIU investigators and are restricted in what they can publicly say while the probe is active. That means details about what prompted the original call, how the chase unfolded, and the nature of the man's injuries are likely to remain limited until the SIU concludes its work.
ByWard Market at 3:30 a.m.
The timing and location are notable. The ByWard Market is one of Ottawa's busiest and most iconic neighbourhoods — a hub of late-night activity on weekends, drawing bar-goers, diners, and tourists well into the early morning hours. Police respond to calls in the area regularly, though incidents resulting in SIU investigations are far less common.
The early-morning hour means there may have been bystanders in the area at the time. Ottawa Police have not indicated whether any other individuals were involved or affected.
What Happens Next
SIU investigations can take weeks to months depending on complexity. Investigators will examine the circumstances leading up to the incident, interview witnesses, review any available video footage, and assess the actions of the officers involved. At the conclusion of the investigation, the SIU director determines whether there are reasonable grounds to believe an officer committed a criminal offence.
Ottawa Police have not released the names of the officers involved, as is standard practice during an active SIU investigation.
Residents with information about the incident are encouraged to contact the SIU directly at 1-800-787-8529.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
