Manslaughter proceedings for OPP officer returns to court in September
The court case involving Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer Const. Sean O’Rourke will return to a Chatham courtroom on Sept. 9 before a trial date is scheduled for Sept. 25.
The provincial Special Investigations Unit (SIU) laid the charges against the officer on Jan. 14, 2022 following an investigation into the shooting death of a man in Chatham-Kent.
According to SIU investigators, the OPP responded to a gas theft in July 2021, when officers spotted a vehicle on the westbound lanes on Highway 401 and followed it.
The suspect vehicle rolled into a ditch near Highgate, Ont. and an officer’s firearm discharged, shooting the driver, as the officer approached the vehicle.
The man was rushed to hospital, but was later pronounced dead.
A section of the 401 was closed to traffic as part of the investigation.
The officer is charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of criminal negligence causing death.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.