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PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2000 - § SIU releases report clearing officer in shooting By Chris Hall Port Perry Star The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has concluded that a Durham Regional Police officer who shot and wounded a Cobourg man last December did not com- mit a, criminal offense. After a six-month probe into the Dec. 20, 1999 inci- dent, SIU Director Peter A. Tinsley cleared Durham Const. Paul Williams of any wrongdoing in the shooting of Warren Mclvor, 45. The Cobourg man was shot three times - twice in the right arm and once in the stomach - after his vehicle came to a stop near Beaverton at a police roadblock. He survived his injuries and is now serving his five- month jail sentence. In arriving at his decision, the SIU Director noted "There are reasonable grounds to believe that the offi- cer was in genuine fear for his life and his belief that it was necessary to shoot Mr. Mclvor when he did in order to preserve himself from death or grievous bod- ily harm was objectively reasonable in all of the cir- cumstances." In an announcement released last Friday afternoon, Mr. Tinsley concluded that "while the evidence estab- lishes that the officer intentionally shot Mr. Mclvor... there are reasonable grounds to believe that he was legally justified in doing so under the... Criminal Code of Canada." Mr. Mclvor led police on a 66-kilometre pursuit which began at the Great Blue Heron Casino on Scugog Island around 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, 1999. Police had been called to the casino concerning a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. During the chase, Mr. Mclvor's Pontiac Sunbird struck Const. Williams' cruiser on two separate occa- sions while he attempted to evade capture, according to the SIU report. Mr. Mclvor drove through a stop sign, and drove over two spike .belts, which had been deployed to disable his vehicle. Mr. Mclvor's: vehicle entered the intersection of Hwys. 12 and 48, where it collided with a Durham cruis- er. It was later boxed in by two Durham cruisers and one Mnjikaning Police cruiser. At that point, officers exited their vehicles and sur- rounded Mr. Mclvor's car with their weapons drawn. Mr. Mclvor continued to rev his engine while police surrounded him and "the subject officer (Const. Williams) shot through the windshield of Mr. Mclvor's vehicle in belief that the vehicle was being driven at him," the report says. Mr. Mclvor was arrested and treated for his injuries. In March he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, fail- ing to stop for police, and failing to comply with bail. He was sentenced to five months in jail in addition to more than three months served in pre-trial custody. Const. Paul Williams and the Durham Police force were informed of the SIU's decision not to lay charges on June 12. The SIU did not make their conclusion pub- lic until June 16. The length of the probe has been harshly criticized by counsel for Const. Williams, the police force, and the Police Services Board. "Obviously we're very pleased," Staff-Sgt. Mike Ewles of 26 Division in Port Perry said of the SIU's deci- sion. "We felt all along he would be vindicated given all the evidence in hand. "But we do have some concerns with the length of the investigation and the timeline in which it was con- ducted." LACK) A 450 Slot Machines NOW PLAYING Great Blue Heron Charity Casino Port Perry, Ontario 1-888:29-HERON www. greathlueheroncasino.com cx ¢ Routerre « Lev or Ringe © Pa e Suptr I's BLacxia Just East of Port Perry, off Nwy. 7A at island Rd. Licence #0000008 Baagwating Community Asen. Must bo 19 years of age or older. Gow « Houo