Director's Report Details

The Special Investigations Unit is a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates incidents involving an official where there has been death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person or an allegation of sexual assault. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019 (SIU Act), officials are defined as police officers, special constables of the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers under the Legislative Assembly Act. The SIU’s jurisdiction covers more than 50 municipal, regional and provincial police services across Ontario.

Under the SIU Act, the Director of the SIU must determine based on the evidence gathered in an investigation whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence was committed. If such grounds exist, the Director has the authority to lay a criminal charge against the official. Alternatively, in cases where no reasonable grounds exist, the Director cannot lay charges. Where no charges are laid, a report of the investigation is prepared and released publicly, except in the case of reports dealing with allegations of sexual assault, in which case the SIU Director may consult with the affected person and exercise a discretion to not publicly release the report having regard to the affected person’s privacy interests.

Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019

Pursuant to section 34, certain information may not be included in this report. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• The name of, and any information identifying, a subject official, witness official, civilian witness or affected person.
• Information that may result in the identity of a person who reported that they were sexually assaulted being revealed in connection with the sexual assault.
• Information that, in the opinion of the SIU Director, could lead to a risk of serious harm to a person.
• Information that discloses investigative techniques or procedures.
• Information, the release of which is prohibited or restricted by law.
• Information in which a person’s privacy interest in not having the information published clearly outweighs the public interest in having the information published.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act

Pursuant to section 14 (i.e., law enforcement), certain information may not be included in this report. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Confidential investigative techniques and procedures used by law enforcement agencies; and
• Information that could reasonably be expected to interfere with a law enforcement matter or an investigation undertaken with a view to a law enforcement proceeding.

Pursuant to section 21 (i.e., personal privacy), protected personal information is not included in this report. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• The names of persons, including civilian witnesses, and subject and witness officials;
• Location information;
• Witness statements and evidence gathered in the course of the investigation provided to the SIU in confidence; and
• Other identifiers which are likely to reveal personal information about individuals involved in the investigation.

Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004

Pursuant to this legislation, any information related to the personal health of identifiable individuals is not included.

Other proceedings, processes, and investigations

Information may also have been excluded from this report because its release could undermine the integrity of other proceedings involving the same incident, such as criminal proceedings, coroner’s inquests, other public proceedings and/or other law enforcement investigations.

Pursuant to section 15 of the SIU Act, the SIU may investigate the conduct of officials, be they police officers, special constables of the Niagara Parks Commission or peace officers under the Legislative Assembly Act, that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

A person sustains a “serious injury” for purposes of the SIU’s jurisdiction if they: sustain an injury as a result of which they are admitted to hospital; suffer a fracture to the skull, or to a limb, rib or vertebra; suffer burns to a significant proportion of their body; lose any portion of their body; or, as a result of an injury, experience a loss of vision or hearing.

In addition, a “serious injury” means any other injury sustained by a person that is likely to interfere with the person’s health or comfort and is not transient or trifling in nature.

This report relates to the SIU’s investigation into the serious injury of a 54-year-old woman (the “Complainant”).

Notification of the SIU[1]

On June 4, 2026, at 4:43 p.m., the East Region OPP contacted the SIU with the following information.

On June 4, 2026, at 2:12 a.m., officers from the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Detachment responded to a residence in South Glengarry for a person in crisis. A male [now known to be Civilian Witness (CW) #2] had called police to report that his wife [now known to be the Complainant] was trying to hang herself. When officers arrived, CW #2 advised that the Complainant had fled the residence upon learning that police were called. Officers commenced a search around the property and found the Complainant hiding in bushes. When they engaged the Complainant, she resisted and was eventually grounded by the officers. The Complainant complained of pain in her wrist and was taken to the Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH). At 2:12 p.m., the OPP were advised that the Complainant had suffered a fractured wrist.

The Team

Date and time team dispatched: 2026/06/04 at 6:03 p.m.

Date and time SIU arrived on scene: 2026/06/05 at 7:58 a.m.

Number of SIU Investigators assigned: 3

Number of SIU Forensic Investigators assigned: 0

Affected Person (aka “Complainant”)

54-year-old female; interviewed; medical records obtained and reviewed

The Complainant was interviewed on June 5, 2026.

Civilian Witnesses (CW)

CW #1 Interviewed

CW #2 Interviewed

The civilian witnesses were interviewed between June 5, 2026, and June 16, 2026.

Subject Official (SO)

SO Interviewed, but declined to submit notes, as is the subject official’s legal right

The subject official was interviewed on August 5, 2026.

Witness Official (WO)

WO Interviewed; notes received and reviewed

The witness official was interviewed on June 10, 2026.

The Scene

The events in question transpired in the backyard of a property in South Glengarry.

Video/Audio/Photographic Evidence[2]

OPP and Ottawa Paramedic Service (OPS) Communications Recordings – 911

On June 4, 2026, at 1:49:14 a.m., CW #2 called 911 [OPS] for assistance at an address in South Glengarry. CW #2 indicated he had arrived home from work and found his spouse [the Complainant] drunk and trying to commit suicide. The Complainant was crying and speaking in the background. CW #2 denied any violence and indicated the Complainant had attempted to hang herself with a towel, wanted to jump off a porch, and had a history of mental health issues when consuming alcohol. CW #2 indicated that the Complainant had gone downstairs and left the residence. A similar incident had reportedly occurred previously, which required a response by Emergency Medical Services. CW #2 proceeded to indicate that he was searching for her outside.

At 1:53:19 a.m., the OPS contacted the OPP for assistance at an address in South Glengarry. The OPP call-taker confirmed officers were en route.

OPP Communications Recordings – Radio

On June 4, 2026, at 1:55:27 a.m., the OPP communications centre contacted officers regarding a call they had received from OPS about a 54-year-old woman [the Complainant] who had a towel around her neck and had said she would jump from the porch. OPP communications subsequently advised that OPS had received an update indicating the female had fled from the residence. The communications centre noted that there was a Mental Health Act-related call involving the address in the last several months.

At 2:05:30 a.m., an officer requested a clothing description and direction of travel. The information was said to be unavailable at that time.

At 2:12:18 a.m., CW #2 advised that the Complainant was wearing a white shirt and pajama shorts.

At 2:15:02 a.m., a request was made for the canine unit. The SO advised that, according to CW #2, the Complainant had stated that her deceased mother and sister told her to join them. It was believed the Complainant was attempting suicide before CW #2 found her. The Complainant was also reported to be intoxicated.

At 2:19:09 a.m., the WO advised that officers were going to clear the home and then the garage. The WO subsequently reported that there was a camp behind the residence where the Complainant’s son [now believed to be CW #2’s stepson] sometimes stayed. Officers believed she might have gone there.

At 2:26:48 a.m., the WO spoke with the stepson, who did not know the Complainant’s whereabouts. OPP communications advised that the Emergency Response Team and a canine unit were en route and OPS were nearly on scene.

At 2:37:36 a.m., the SO advised that officers had located the Complainant. She was handcuffed, apprehended under the Mental Health Act, and transported to the CCH.

OPP Body-worn Camera (BWC) Footage - The SO and the WO

On June 4, 2026, at 2:37:32 a.m., the SO used his flashlight to locate the Complainant in the bushes behind an address in South Glengarry. The Complainant, seated in a thick area of bushes, stood up and walked out of the bushes towards the SO.

At 2:37:55 a.m., the SO directed the Complainant to turn around and place her hands behind her back. He took hold of her right arm at the elbow using both of his hands. The Complainant flailed her arms and said, “No,” multiple times and that she was not under arrest. She was directed to put her hands behind her back multiple times. The officers told her to stop resisting while the Complainant kept saying, “Why?”

At 2:38:06 a.m., an officer said, “Get down.” The SO and the WO grounded the Complainant into a prone position.[3] She moaned and said, “Fuck, why?” An officer responded, “We’re apprehending you under the Mental Health Act.” The SO maintained control of her right wrist while the WO controlled her left. The Complainant said, “Ow, that fucking hurt.”

At 2:38:23 a.m., the WO sat on the Complainant’s backside as the SO handcuffed her with her hands behind the back. The Complainant continued to grimace in pain. The WO radioed that the Complainant had been located and apprehended under section 17 of the Mental Health Act.

At 2:38:39 a.m., the Complainant asked the officers to remove the handcuffs because of her sore wrist. The officers declined the request.

At 2:38:46 a.m., the WO and the SO assisted the Complainant to her feet and walked her towards the road.

At 2:39:06 a.m., the SO explained that she was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and was going to the hospital. The Complainant responded, “Yes. That’s what I wanted.”

At 2:39:14 a.m., the Complainant said, “This is hurting me.” The SO said they would fix it in the cruiser.

At 2:39:42 a.m., the Complainant arrived at the cruiser and the SO checked the handcuffs for tightness. He told her he could fit three fingers between the handcuff and her right wrist. She continued to complain that the handcuffs were hurting.

At 2:40:15 a.m., the SO attempted to place the Complainant in the rear driver-side seat of the cruiser. She fell to the floor between the protective cage and the molded plastic seat. The Complainant screamed in pain as this occurred.

At 2:40:20 a.m., the SO assisted the Complainant into the rear driver-side seat and closed the door.

Materials Obtained from Police Service

Upon request, the SIU received the following materials from the OPP between June 5, 2026, and June 9, 2026:

• List of involved officers
• General Report
• Arrest Report
• Notes – the WO
• Police communications recordings
• Computer-aided Dispatch Report
• In-car camera footage – the WO
• BWC footage – Officer #1, Officer #2, Officer #3, the WO and the SO

Materials Obtained from Other Sources

The SIU obtained the following records from the following other sources between June 9, 2026, and July 8, 2026.

• The Complainant’s medical records from CCH
• Communications recordings from OPS

The evidence collected by the SIU, including interviews with the Complainant, the SO and other witnesses (police and non-police), and video footage that largely captured the incident, gives rise to the following scenario.

In the early morning of June 4, 2026, OPP officers were dispatched to a residence in South Glengarry. CW #2 had contacted 911 to report that his wife – the Complainant – was suicidal and had attempted to hang herself with a towel. She was inebriated and had left the house while he was on the phone with 911.

The SO was among the first responders who arrived at the address and began a search for the Complainant. He found her attempting to conceal herself in bushes at the rear of the next property east of the residence. The Complainant emerged from the bushes at the officer’s request but then demurred when advised that she was being taken into custody under the Mental Health Act. She flailed her arms and resisted as the SO tried to secure her in handcuffs behind the back. The WO, also on scene in response to the 911 call, appeared and assisted the SO in taking the Complainant to the ground. Once in a prone position, the SO secured her in handcuffs as the WO kept her pinned to the ground. The officers assisted the Complainant to her feet, escorted her to a cruiser and placed her inside.

The Complainant was transported to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured right wrist.

Section 25(1), Criminal Code - Protection of Persons Acting Under Authority

25 (1) Every one who is required or authorized by law to do anything in the administration or enforcement of the law

(a) as a private person,

(b) as a peace officer or public officer,

(c) in aid of a peace officer or public officer, or

(d) by virtue of his office,

is, if he acts on reasonable grounds, justified in doing what he is required or authorized to do and in using as much force as is necessary for that purpose.

Section 17, Mental Health Act - Action by Police Officer

17 Where a police officer has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that a person is acting or has acted in a disorderly manner and has reasonable cause to believe that the person,

(a) has threatened or attempted or is threatening or attempting to cause bodily harm to himself or herself;

(b) has behaved or is behaving violently towards another person or has caused or is causing another person to fear bodily harm from him or her; or

(c) has shown or is showing a lack of competence to care for himself or herself,

and in addition the police officer is of the opinion that the person is apparently suffering from mental disorder of a nature or quality that likely will result in,

(d) serious bodily harm to the person;

(e) serious bodily harm to another person; or

(f) serious physical impairment of the person,

and that it would be dangerous to proceed under section 16, the police officer may take the person in custody to an appropriate place for examination by a physician.

The Complainant was diagnosed with a serious injury following her apprehension in South Glengarry on June 4, 2026. The SIU was notified of the incident and initiated an investigation, naming the SO the subject official. The investigation is now concluded. On my assessment of the evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the SO committed a criminal offence in connection with the Complainant’s arrest and injury.

Pursuant to section 25(1) of the Criminal Code, police officers are immune from criminal liability for force used in the course of their duties provided such force was reasonably necessary in the execution of an act that they were required or authorized to do by law.

With information to believe that the Complainant was of unsound mind and a threat to her own safety, I am satisfied that the SO was within his rights in apprehending her under section 17 of the Mental Health Act.

I am also satisfied that the force brought to bear in the Complainant’s apprehension, namely, the takedown, was lawful. The Complainant struggled against her arrest by attempting to pull free of the SO’s hold and flailing her arms. In the circumstances, it made sense to take her to the ground. In that position, the officers could better manage the Complainant’s resistance. The maneuver itself, on the evidence, was not performed with undue force.

It remains unclear when the Complainant’s wrist was broken. While it is entirely conceivable that it happened in the course of her arrest by the officers, the possibility that she injured herself prior to police arrival could not be discounted. Be that as it may, as there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the SO or the WO comported themselves other than lawfully in their dealings with the Complainant, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case. The file is closed.

Date: September 17, 2026

Electronically approved by

Joseph Martino

Director

Special Investigations Unit