Police get fuzzy with the facts on an arrest of a driver who fled the scene.

Crime 100By Pepper Parr

December 13, 2014

BURLINGTON, ON

 

This police report was a little fuzzy right from the beginning.

A police officer is doing traffic checks on King Road.  The driver of a car that was expected to pull over flees.

Here is how the police describe the event:

On Friday December 12, 2014 at approximately 10:00am, a Halton patrol officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a suspected suspended driver in the area of Plains Rd and King Rd in the City of Burlington. The suspect drove away from the officer, northbound on King Rd and subsequently struck an oncoming southbound vehicle. The driver fled on foot from the scene pursued by the officer. The suspect was arrested a short distance from the scene. The accused and officer suffered minor injuries and treated at hospital. No other injuries sustained by other parties in the southbound vehicle.

If the police pull you over – you roll down the window and give them your driver’s license. If you don’t have one – they’ve got you.At that time the police report: The Special Investigations Unit has been contacted and has not confirmed whether or not they will invoke their mandate and take carriage of the investigation.

King Rd between North Service Rd and Enfield Rd will be closed indefinitely for investigation.

It isn’t clear as to why the SIU would be involved. There is no mention of a weapon being discharged. A police officer chased a fleeing suspect; appears to have wrestled him to the ground in the process of arresting the man,

There appear to be some injuries; the suspect is taken to the hospital. Where is the need for the SIU?

On Saturday the driver of the car is cleared by the hospital with minor non-significant injuries. The scene of the incident is released by the police and the public can now use the road.

There is no elaboration on what the “non-significant injuries amounted to; that’s something the defense lawyer will bring up during any trial.

The police identify the driver of the car as Burlington Resident Brian Alan NAPPER – 34 years of age. He is charged with:

Drive while Disqualified
Flight while pursued by Peace Officer
Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle
Fail to Stop at Scene of Accident
Assault with Intent to Resist Arrest
Fail to Comply with Probation Order

NAPPER will be held for a bail hearing later today.

In a later report the police say: The Special Investigations Unit “has NOT been contacted yet”.

The police issued three different reports on this arrest. They seemed to be having a problem over whether or not they were going to involve the SIU.

Was there more to this story? Was the suspect badly hurt by the pursuing police officer? Was undue force used?

If the police pull you over – you roll down the window and give them your driver’s license. If you don’t have one – they’ve got you. If you attempt to outrun the police officer he is going to go after you – and if he has to tackle you and get handcuffs on you – then that’s what you get for attempting to flee.

The back and forth on bringing in the Special Investigations Unit is what is confusing.

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2 comments to Police get fuzzy with the facts on an arrest of a driver who fled the scene.

  • Yvonne Lenfesty

    I also have to question what is behind the editorial. It appears to be a lot to do about nothing. The police report was straight forward enough. We have someone out on probation that should not have been driving: was probably impaired; ran away causing the officer to run after him and then resisted arrest causing injuries to both of them. How much more does the public need to know. The SIU can be brought in when a suspect is injured. Whether or not they are brought in depends on the extent of their injuries and this could have been questionable at the time of the report.(s) Instead of trying to make the police look foolish, why not write an article on who the SIU is and what they do because to a large degree the general public is misinformed.

  • tenni

    Thanks you for “reporting” this police report. Although by large city standards, this is barely newsworthy, I think that it is worth reporting to remind Burly peeps that their city has some rough edges to its citizen’s behaviour. Mr. Napper’s behaviour does not live up to Burlington’s positive self image. It reminds us to be cautious. Thanks to the officer for his diligence. Thanks to the Gazette for this report.

    However, I do have to wonder about the questions posted in this article. Are they appropriate for a news report? Is this news report too close to an opinion editorial? The fact that Mr. Napper has violated his probation is serious. I don’t think that this news report has crossed a line about mixing up opinion with news report but it may be approaching that ethical position.

    Whether the SIU has been called in or not might have been better not reported at this point as far as belonging to a news report. Mr Napper has enough serious charges against him without speculation as to whether the SIU was brought in.