News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Burn Injuries Sustained by Man in Madoc
Case Number: 12-PCI-325
Mississauga (8 November, 2012) --- Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) preliminary enquiries into the burn injuries sustained by a 27-year-old man while lodged in a cell in Madoc this past weekend, SIU Director Ian Scott has terminated the investigation. Director Scott has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to charge an officer with the Ontario Provincial Police Central Hastings Detachment with any criminal offence in relation to this incident.
Three investigators and two forensic investigators from the SIU probed the circumstances surrounding this incident. The investigation determined that in the afternoon hours of November 4, 2012, the man was arrested on outstanding warrants and lodged in a cell. He found a lighter in his pocket – which had been missed during the search of his person – and used it to set fire to the stomach area of his sweater/hoodie. He started to moan as the sweater burned and as the heat started to intensify on his skin. Officers in the vicinity heard the man moaning and came to his aid. They yelled at him to take off his sweater but he refused the commands. The officers opened the cell door and pulled the burning sweater off of him. The man was taken to Campbellford Memorial Hospital for treatment of second degree burns to his torso and left hand.
The incident was recorded on the cell video.
There is no evidence that the officers caused or contributed in any way to the injuries sustained by the man. Given the Unit’s mandate, which is limited to serious injuries and deaths that may have resulted from criminal offences committed by police officers, there is nothing further to investigate. Accordingly, the SIU investigation has been terminated.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations