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a ---- a -------- Bee 16- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 22, 1998 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Officers weren't in close pursuit of accident vehicle: SIU From page 1 assessment. He is sched- uled to appear in court again this morning. The ordeal began during the early morning hours of Nov. 15 when Durham offi- cers responded to reports of a domestic dispute, made by a woman using the emergency phone line at Port Perry's community police station. Two marked cruisers were dispatched to the 26 Division station and iden- tified a suspect and vehicle, which was later reported to be the woman's estranged husband. The truck fled south on Old Simcoe Road and police followed, activating their emergency lights and sirens. Early in the pursuit, the suspect "turned on his four- way flashers and slowed before accelerating again", and then turned west on Highway 7A and continued at a high rate of speed, according to the report. At that point the driver turned off his headlights, says the SIU report. The PURCHASE FINANCING UP TO 48 MONTHS. 3.9%' PURCHASE FINANCING UP TO 60 MONTHS. SMARTLEASE 228 »1i978 1.9" Purchase Financing Up To 48 Months. /36 months/$1,500 down payment/S$645 freight required NO SECURITY DEPOSIT (excludes freight $645) Or get into a Sunfire Sedan for as low as 5198/month/36 months WITH AIR AND AUTOMATIC theft-deterrent system. Y 1998 PONTIAC SUNFI With its sporty look, the 4-door Sunfire is by far the most exciting in its category. it comes with: 4-speed Automatic Transmission with Enhanced Traction System, Air Conditioning ° 2 2 litre 2200 L4 115HP engine ® Rear spoiler ® 4-wheel anti-lock brakes * Folding rear seatback ® Next Generation dual front air bags ® PASSLock" RE SED ¥ 1999 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT A true Pontiac, it's the only minivan built for drivers. 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In her report, Ms Chapin also noted that the identity of the fleeing sus- pect was unknown to the officers at the time of the pursuit. At no time during the 911 calls did the woman identify herself or the male driver of the truck. The rear license plate of the truck "had been altered," she added. Inspector Chuck Mercier, head officer at North Durham's 26 Division, admits that he is quite relieved the investi- gation is over and the three officers have been cleared. "From the start we were quite confident that the officers had acted appro- priately. It's an unfortu- nate end with the loss of an innocent life though," he said last Friday after- noon. "Investigations into the fatal (crash) were conduct- ed properly by the SIU and OPP. From my point of view, we were comfortable that the officers took the necessary actions and were well within (provincial) guidelines," said Insp. Mercier. "It has been a very try- ing time for the officers involved. Their job is to serve the public and at no time during their actions were they subject to mis- conduct," he said. "Police officers are fully account- able to the public." During the call the offi- cers involved received very little information, which made their job even more difficult, he said. "There were calls for assistance made from three different locations. The officers did not know what had occurred, or if it was a violent domestic. They had very limited information and this all happened in four minutes," he said, adding that the officers were not following the sus- pect very closely. "They were quite a dis- tance away; they were over half a kilometre behind and they didn't see the impact... they didn't see the collision. "Technically it was a pursuit, but it never was a direct one; they weren't right behind him. They fol- lowed him, but they never kept up; they kept their distance just to warn peo- ple because he didn't have his lights on." : Throughout the SIU investigation, Insp. Mercier says both the agen- cy and the force co-operated with each other. The three officers involved have served with Durham for 25, 10 and three years.