OPP officer accused of manslaughter says he tripped, fell into suspect car

Pratyush Dayal · CBC News

· Posted: May 15, 2025 8:19 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Const. Sean O'Rourke connected Thursday testified that he tripped and fell into the car Nicholas Grieves was driving soon earlier Grieves' decease — and that he doesn't cognize however the weapon helium was carrying went off. 

O'Rourke is connected proceedings this week for manslaughter successful a judge-alone proceedings successful Chatham Superior court. He has pleaded not guilty. 

Grieves, 24, was surviving successful Windsor astatine the clip of his decease and was a subordinate of Six Nations of the Grand River.

On July 7, 2021, the OPP responded to a telephone astir a gasoline theft astatine a state presumption on Highway 401 successful Dutton, Ont. Officers located the vehicle, believed to beryllium travelling westbound, and followed it. 

"A theft substance telephone is astir each the times coupled with much superior transgression activities," O'Rourke told the tribunal arsenic the rationale for making the pursuit.

O'Rourke said the car's "continuous weaving" made him judge the operator was impaired, fatigued oregon texting portion driving.

O'Rourke said helium and different officer, Sgt. Bradley Cooke — who testified Tuesday — agreed to execute a tandem stop, successful which a conveyance is boxed successful to halt it. 

But O'Rourke said Grieves kept accelerating.

"The relation of the conveyance came implicit into my lane and rammed the beforehand of my trooper," helium said. "It was shocking. It astonished maine … I ne'er had anyone ram my constabulary conveyance fto unsocial astatine 100 kilometres [an hour] … it was precise violent, unexpected and intentional."

'Neither the rider nor the operator were obeying commands'

O'Rourke said aft the impact, helium saw Grieves' car rotation and onshore successful the ditch. 

"It conducted a afloat 360 [degree] turn," helium said, adding that the vehicle's rider broadside tires lifted disconnected the crushed respective inches.

O'Rourke said he then could spot the operator successful his rear presumption reflector and understood determination was a beforehand passenger, too.

"I could straight spot into the eyes of the driver. His eyes were highly crazed, bugging retired of his face," helium told the court.

O'Rourke said he saw the operator looking astatine the centre console, which helium recovered "concerning," and thought Grieves was trying to get a weapon. 

"The Grieves household volition person to excuse maine but this operator was wholly crazed. He didn't attraction astir me."

O'Rourke says helium drew his firearm and started ordering the operator to amusement his hands.

"Neither the rider nor the operator were obeying commands … their hands were down."

'The weapon went off… I didn't cognize how'

O'Rourke said helium stepped guardant to spot what the operator was doing arsenic helium kept rummaging done the centre console.

"I stumbled forward, overmuch similar stubbing a toed connected a portion of furnishings … losing equilibrium and I was propelled into the car," helium said. 

O'Rourke said his hands and shoulders were present successful the car arsenic helium kept holding his weapon with his elbows locked retired and arms extended, with his weapon accessible to the beforehand spot passengers. 

He demonstrated to the tribunal however helium was holding his weapon with some hands with his fingers connected the firearm's slide. 

O'Rourke said helium didn't spot a weapon wrong and started struggling to get free. 

"The weapon went off. It wholly shocked me. I didn't cognize why. I didn't cognize how," helium told the tribunal successful tears.

He said helium removed himself from the car and instantly administered first aid. 

He told the tribunal they performed CPR connected Grieves and helium besides did an artificial resuscitation, and yet EMS arrived and took over.

O'Rourke says helium felt his actions met the barroom for the constabulary usage of unit model, which says determination indispensable beryllium a hazard of superior bodily harm oregon death. The exemplary was discussed successful Wednesday's tribunal proceedings. 

"There's nary question. I perfectly felt that the concern met the mandate of superior bodily harm oregon death," helium said.

On Wednesday, a firearms adept who had examined O'Rourke's weapon testified it was successful bully moving order. 

The Crown is expected to cross-examine O'Rourke on Friday.

O'Rourke, who joined the Chatham-Kent OPP detachment successful 2004, has been suspended with wage since being charged by the portion successful 2022.