NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. -- A police officer has been charged after a man and woman were injured when a marked cruiser struck their SUV from behind in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The province's police watchdog says Robert and Christine Long were travelling (on Montrose Road near Charnwood Avenue) in their Nissan Rogue in the city's west end when the collision occurred early in the evening on Jan. 19.

The Special Investigations Unit says 56-year-old Robert Long suffered fractured ribs while 55-year-old Christine Long sustained a head injury in the incident.

Niagara regional police Const. Leslie Bittman is facing one count of dangerous driving.

The SIU says Bittman is due in court on June 26.

The SIU is an arm's length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.