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4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 21, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Police chase ends in shooting Special Investigations Unit called to Durham for second police shooting in a year From page 1 suffering from at least one gunshot wound and other undetermined injuries. At press time the unidentified male was listed in serious but stable condition. Sources close to the case say that the shots were fired by a veteran Durham officer after the vehicles were stopped. The vehicle had its tires punctured by the nail belt, and three closely- grouped bullet holes were visible in the passenger side windshield of the dam- aged car. Durham Regional Police Inspector Chuck Mercier, head officer at 26 Division, said that policy regarding injury to a civilian is clear, and was fol- lowed. "We contacted the SIU (Special Investigation Unit of the Attorney Generals office) and thev dispatched investigators who are on the scene now," said Insp. Mercier. "It would be inappropriate for us to comment any further because of the SIU involvement," he said. The scene at the crash site Monday morning showed two Durham cruisers and one cruiser from the Rama reserve police closed tightly around the suspect vehicle. Officers from the Durham Regional Police, OPP and SIU forensics experts combed the scene for evidence. Durham SOCU (scene of the crime unit) investigators were at the casino Monday, photographing the tracks left by the suspect vehicle on its careening trip through the ditch and onto the roadway. One year ago on December 28 SIU investigators were called to the same area of the region after two York and two Durham officers were involved in the fatal shooting of a Sunderland area man and the wounding of his son. The investigation resulted in the first mur- der charge ever laid against an officer for a duty-related shooting, and assault and weapons related charges against a veteran Durham officer. That case has yet to be heard in court. Terry Ryan, president of the Durham Regional Police Association, said that the officer involved will have the full support "and benefit of legal counsel by the association". Mr. Ryan said that he is uncon- 30 3140 dd 0 Sgidaurv ave cerned by the SIU involvement. "There is no doubt in our minds that the officers involved in this incident acted in a professional manner and in the best interests of public and officer safety," Mr. Ryan said. "As always, we will cooperate fully with the SIU with the benefit of instruction from our counsel," he said. At press time Gail Scala, media spokesperson for the SIU would only confirm that the suspect shot by police was a 45-year-old male, who is listed in critical but stable condition at Sunnybrook. ron = Ms. Scala said a team of five investi- gators is currently looking into the shooting, but has not determined how many officers may be designated as subject officers -- those directly involved -- and how many of the sever- al officers present will be designated witness officers. The SIU's other major investigation of an incident here occurred last November, when a man fleeing police was involved in a fatal accident in Manchester. Officers from 26 Division were found to have acted appropriately in that instance. NER RIK DAVIE/PORT PERRY STAR THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS: Investigators with the Ontario Provincial Police and the civilian Special Investigations Unit were at the scene of a police shooting, at the intersection of Hwy. 12 and 48, Monday. Below left, one of the spike belts deployed by police remains on the roadway while at right, officers confer by the suspect vehicle. Three bullet holes are visible in the car's windshield.