Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has terminated an investigation into an incident that saw a teen injured in Mount Brydges.
Around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, January 2, Strathroy-Caradoc police were called about a robbery at the Mac’s Variety store at 22537 Adelaide Rd. According to police, a man walked into the store and threatened employees with a weapon while demanding cash. He then took off with an undetermined amount of money in a four-door sedan. The store’s two employees were not hurt.
The SIU said the teen was driving through Mount Brydges when he saw a police cruiser. The teen made a U-turn and left the area. The cruiser did not follow. About 40 minutes after the robbery, police came upon a collision scene on Adelaide Road at Mill Road. Officers quickly determined the vehicle involved in the crash was the same one used in the robbery. The OPP K9 unit was called in to help search the area for the suspect, who had run away before police arrived.
A concerned citizen called police at 7:10 a.m. after spotting a suspicious male inside their vehicle not far from the crash site. The male was arrested in the backyard shortly after. The SIU said the teen was taken to hospital for treatment, however his injuries were not caused by any actions of the responding officers.
“The young person’s injuries resulted from his own actions and had nothing to do with the conduct of any police officer," said SIU Director Tony Loparco. "As such, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
The 16-year-old was charged with robbery. His name cannot be released because of his age.
