Latest news with #SeanO'Rourke
CTV News
24-06-2025
- CTV News
Chatham-Kent OPP officer found not guilty of manslaughter
Scene of incident along Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent. (Source: SIU, via the Superior Court of Chatham) A Chatham-Kent OPP officer has been found not guilty of manslaughter. Const. Sean O'Rourke, 58, was acquitted Tuesday in the on-duty death of Nicholas Grieves, 24. He was shot and killed on July 7, 2021, while seated behind the wheel of his car, in the center median of Highway 401 near Highgate. O'Rourke pulled Grieves' vehicle over for a theft of $40 in gas from the Dutton ONRoute. O'Rourke testified at trial that Grieves did not pull his car over after the emergency lights were turned on. He also alleged Grieves rammed into his cruiser. Nicholas Grieves Nicholas Grieves. (Source: Angela Keats) O'Rourke told the court he doesn't know why his handgun went off after he tripped and stumbled into the front seat of Grieves' car. Grieves fiancée at the time told the court she is still traumatized by the incident and said the gun went off near her face, while seated in the front passenger seat. The courtroom was packed, standing room only, and primarily made up of officers or former officers and friends of O'Rourke. The OPP Association issued a statement on Tuesday: 'The OPP Association supports OPP Provincial Constable Sean O'Rourke Today, PC O'Rourke was acquitted of manslaughter in Ontario Provincial Court in Chatham relating to a line of duty incident that occurred on Highway 401 near Ridgetown, Ontario on July 7, 2021. On that day, a 25yr old man tragically died as PC O'Rourke and other police officers were trying to apprehend the suspect while fleeing police after a theft of gas. The lives of the family of the deceased, our police officers and our civilian members have been forever impacted." OPP Association President John Cerasuolo commented: 'We respect the court's decision and believe it reflects the complexities faced by police officers in dangerous and unpredictable situations. Our officers are dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of Ontario, often in circumstances beyond their control. This has been an extraordinarily difficult period for all involved, and we remain committed to supporting Provincial Constable O'Rourke, along with all our members and their families, as they continue to navigate the emotional aftermath of this event.' Defence Counsel Sandy Khehra added: 'It is essential that the law recognizes the realities and risks inherent in policing. Police officers are entrusted to use reasonable force to protect themselves and others. We are relieved that the court's decision reflects this understanding.' Available resources: The OPP Association encourage anyone impacted by this situation to reach out and lean on those closest to them, as well as seek professional mental health assistance. For members of the public, the Canadian Mental Health Association has a number of resources on their website The Ontario Provincial Police Association's (OPPA) Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program is available to our members and their families by calling 24/7: 1-866-794-9117 or by visiting Confidential support services are available to all OPP members, families, retirees, and auxiliaries through the OPP's Healthy Workplace Team (HWT) available by phone, toll-free at 1-844-OPP-9409 (1-844-677-9409), or by directly contacting any HWT member.
CBC
24-06-2025
- CBC
Chatham-Kent OPP constable not guilty in 2021 shooting death of Six Nations man in Ontario
Social Sharing A Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police officer has been found not guilty in the 2021 shooting death of a man from Six Nations of the Grand River near Brantford. Justice Bruce Thomas released his decision in Superior Court on Tuesday, nearly a month after Const. Sean O'Rourke's judge-alone manslaughter trial had ended. Thomas found O'Rourke had acted reasonably in the early-morning hours of July 7, 2021, when he shot 24-year-old Nicholas Grieves following a Highway 401 pursuit after Grieves was being sought in the theft of $40 worth of gas from a Dutton gas station. "Police action should not be judged against the standard of perfection … their action should be judged against the circumstances," Thomas told the courtroom, which was so crowded that some attendees were sitting in the jury box. Both O'Rourke and Tricia Grieves, Nicholas's mother, were in tears as the judge delivered his verdict. Defence lawyer Sandip (Sandy) Khehra said his client is relieved by the verdict, adding that O'Rourke is seeking privacy and a moment to reflect. Khehra said he was impressed with the judge's decision and his understanding of the issues. "We are here playing Monday morning quarterback on something that was seconds long and tragic, there's no denying, but at the same time, I think, you know, police officers have a job to do, so next time you see a police officer driving by, thank them for their service." Lawyers presented different versions of events In the seven-day trial that started last month, lawyers for both the defence and the Crown presented competing versions of events. Khehra argued Grieves's car had rammed the officer's during a Highway 401 chase, spinning out of control and stopping before O'Rourke tripped and fell into the car, during which time his gun went off, shooting Grieves. The car having rammed O'Rourke's cruiser meant the incident was more dangerous and that O'Rourke was correct to drawn his weapon, Khehra said. Crown lawyer Jason Nicol argued that was all a fabrication — that O'Rourke had no reason to pursue a chase of Grieves's car over a small theft, that his cruiser was not rammed with the force described and that O'Rourke was a highly trained tactical officer whose gun was in perfect working condition. It was through his carelessness, Nicol argued, that Grieves was shot, and it could only have happened because O'Rourke pulled the trigger. Much of the evidence and testimony in the trial centred on the 87 seconds between when O'Rourke made the decision to turn on his police vehicle lights to stop the car carrying Grieves and two other people and the moment Grieves was shot. Grieves was a Six Nations member but had been staying in Windsor. Case 'reflects complexities' of policing, association says In a statement following the verdict, the Ontario Provincial Police Association said "the lives of the family of the deceased, our police officers and our civilian members have been forever impacted." "We respect the court's decision and believe it reflects the complexities faced by police officers in dangerous and unpredictable situations," said John Cerasuolo, the association's president. "Our officers are dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of Ontario, often in circumstances beyond their control. "This has been an extraordinarily difficult period for all involved, and we remain committed to supporting provincial Const. O'Rourke, along with all our members and their families, as they continue to navigate the emotional aftermath of this event."
Cision Canada
24-06-2025
- Cision Canada
OPP Association Supports OPP Provincial Constable Sean O'Rourke
BARRIE, ON, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, OPP Provincial Constable Sean O'Rourke was acquitted of manslaughter at the Superior Court of Justice in Chatham relating to a line of duty incident that occurred on Highway 401 near Ridgetown, Ontario on July 7, 2021. On that day, a 25yr old man tragically died as PC O'Rourke and other police officers were trying to apprehend the suspect while fleeing police after a theft of gas. The lives of the family of the deceased, our police officers and our civilian members have been forever impacted. OPP Association President John Cerasuolo commented: "We respect the court's decision and believe it reflects the complexities faced by police officers in dangerous and unpredictable situations. Our officers are dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of Ontario, often in circumstances beyond their control. This has been an extraordinarily difficult period for all involved, and we remain committed to supporting Provincial Constable O'Rourke, along with all our members and their families, as they continue to navigate the emotional aftermath of this event." Defence Counsel Sandy Khehra added: "It is essential that the law recognizes the realities and risks inherent in policing. Police officers are entrusted to use reasonable force to protect themselves and others. We are relieved that the court's decision reflects this understanding." The OPP Association encourage anyone impacted by this situation to reach out and lean on those closest to them, as well as seek professional mental health assistance. We also encourage you to reach in to those you know are impacted by this tragedy. For members of the public, the Canadian Mental Health Association has a number of resources on their website The Ontario Provincial Police Association's (OPPA) Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program is available to our members and their families by calling 24/7: 1-866-794-9117 or by visiting Confidential support services are available to all OPP members, families, retirees, and auxiliaries through the OPP's Healthy Workplace Team (HWT) available by phone, toll-free at 1-844-OPP-9409 (1-844-677-9409), or by directly contacting any HWT member.
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- RTÉ News
Kidnapping survivor Jody Plauché on surviving abuse and trauma
The latest episode of RTÉ's acclaimed podcast, Insights with Sean O'Rourke, features author, speaker, and child safety advocate Jody Plauché. Listen back above. As a child growing up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Jody was sexually abused* and later kidnapped by his trusted karate instructor. Just days after his rescue, Jody's father, Gary Plauché, took justice into his own hands, shooting and killing the abuser in front of TV cameras —an act that would spark national debate and media scrutiny. In the years since, Jody has refused to be defined by the trauma he endured. Instead, he has become a leading voice in child abuse prevention and education. His book Why, Gary, Why? —named after the now-infamous words caught on camera—shares his story and helps others recognise the patterns of grooming and abuse that too often go unnoticed. In their interview, Jody opens up to Sean on the healing process and his message to other survivors: "You can go through something, if you have the proper support—be it a psychologist, a friend, just as long as you have someone who can give you the proper support."
CBC
21-05-2025
- CBC
Gun could fire even if trigger not pulled, expert says in OPP officer's manslaughter trial
There are ways a hand gun could fire without an officer pulling the trigger: That was the expert testimony of a witness for the defence in the manslaughter trial of OPP Const. Sean O'Rourke on Tuesday. Christopher Butler was qualified as a expert witness with years of experience as a trainer and use of force reviewer with the Calgary Police Service. He has given expert testimony in more than 30 cases. He was called to testify for the defence for O'Rourke, who is on trial in the shooting of 24-year-old Nicholas Grieves, who died after stealing $40 of gas from a Dutton gas station in July 2021. Much of Butler's testimony revolved around police use of force and firearms — including instances where Glock hand guns, like the one O'Rourke had, have gone off without the officer pulling the trigger. Butler told the court it had happened to him, and that subsequent examination showed microscopic cracks in the gun. In another similar instance, a tactical officer with the Calgary Police Service had a Glock hand gun in a holster on his leg when it went off after a slight impact during a high-risk vehicle stop. Those results were able to be replicated, and also showed microscopic defects in the interior of the gun, Butler testified. Butler cited a third example in Winnipeg. These incidents tend to happen in "high mileage" guns that have fired many rounds and have been found, upon further inspection, to have microscopic defects, Butler said. But the defence and Crown questioned Butler about police use of force and his opinion on whether O'Rourke's actions — how he approached the car and the positioning of his weapon as he did so — were appropriate. Butler said he felt O'Rourke's actions were appropriate in the situation, citing research about the risks officers face while doing traffic enforcement work, the lack of compliance by the car's occupants with O'Rourke's instructions and his close proximity to the car. On cross-examination, Crown attorney Jason Nicol pointed to other pieces of testimony, and tried to establish that the gun only would have fired because O'Rourke pulled the trigger — with which Butler disagreed. On Friday, the Crown cross-examined O'Rourke, suggesting the theory that he tripped and fell into the suspect vehicle carrying Grieves and two others was a lie to cover up his own "carelessness."
