Police Watchdog Clears Essex OPP Officer in Death of Harrow Teenager
The province's civilian police oversight agency has determined that an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed no criminal offense in connection with the tragic death of a Harrow teenager who was struck by a police cruiser last autumn.
SIU Investigation Concludes No Criminal Wrongdoing
In a report released on Monday, Joseph Martino, director of Ontario's Special Investigations Unit, concluded that while the officer was traveling above the posted speed limit, there was insufficient evidence to suggest he failed to exercise proper care while operating his vehicle.
The Special Investigations Unit, which investigates police incidents resulting in death, serious injury, allegations of sexual assault, or firearm discharges at individuals, was called to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision that claimed the life of 19-year-old Mendaye "Mendy" Goossen.
Details of the Fatal Incident
According to the SIU report, at approximately 4:22 a.m. on November 2, 2025, the officer was driving westbound on County Road 20, just east of Iler Road in Harrow, when a woman emerged from a cornfield into the path of his Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicle.
The report indicates the officer was returning to the OPP detachment in Essex when the collision occurred. Despite steering to the right in an attempt to avoid contact, the front of his vehicle struck the pedestrian, propelling her a distance west of the cruiser.
Martino noted in his findings that the officer's speeds, ranging between 100 and 110 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, were "unnecessarily high" but did not create an "undue risk to public safety."
Immediate Response and Medical Outcome
The officer immediately stopped his vehicle and began searching for the woman, locating her on the roadway where he administered emergency first aid. The victim had sustained a serious head wound and was unconscious at the scene.
Paramedics transported Goossen to Erie Shore HealthCare in Leamington, where she was pronounced deceased. A pathologist who conducted the autopsy indicated the preliminary view was that death resulted from multiple trauma.
Investigation Findings and Conclusions
The SIU report stated that evidence showed the officer was focused on the roadway ahead and observed the woman step into traffic, attempting to steer around her. Martino acknowledged that traveling at a lower speed might have provided more reaction time, but described this as largely speculative.
The evidence suggested the woman entered the roadway at the "last second," leaving minimal opportunity for the officer to avoid the collision. Based on these findings, Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offense.
"There is no basis for proceeding with charges in this case," Martino stated definitively in his report, closing the investigation into the tragic incident that has deeply affected the Harrow community.
