No charges after SIU investigation into fatal Brantford crash

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says there are no reasonable grounds to charge a Brantford Police Service officer in relation to a fatal collision in November 2016.
SIU director Tony Loparco made the announcement in a press release on Wednesday regarding an investigation into the officer’s conduct while responding to a call on Monday, Nov. 6, 2016.
Anthony David Sears, who was driving a Nissan, collided with a Honda vehicle on Colborne Street at the intersection of Gilkison Street after being alerted to the presence of the police officer. The officer was seeking Sears out regarding another crime of which he was accused.
“I find that there is no evidence that the subject officer’s driving created a danger to other users of the roadway,” Loparco said in his report. “At no time did he interfere with any other traffic, the environmental conditions were good and he used his emergency equipment prudently, activating his roof lights and siren in an attempt to make a traffic stop, but then immediately deactivating all emergency equipment as he was concerned that might cause a situation dangerous to the public. At no time is there any evidence, that once (the suspect) made his decision to flee, that the subject officer engaged in a police pursuit; instead, it is clear on all of the evidence that the subject officer maintained a substantial distance while following the Nissan, as is evidenced by the civilian witnesses as well as the CCTV footage camera, and followed at a far lesser rate of speed than that of the Nissan.”
The collision resulted in the death of a 94-year-old woman and serious injuries to a 71-year-old woman.
Sears, at 29 years old, was sentenced last May to six years for dangerous driving causing death, dangerous driving causing bodily harm and flight from a police officer causing bodily harm or death after pleading guilty.