News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest at Vaughan Cannabis Dispensary
Case Number: 24-OCI-368
In the morning of September 4, 2024, York Regional Police officers attended the site of an illegal cannabis dispensary in Vaughan to arrest anyone found inside. When executing a search warrant on the premises the previous night, officers had posted notices that entry was prohibited and would constitute the offence of ‘break and enter’ under the Criminal Code. Officers located a man and woman inside. The woman was taken into custody without incident. Following an altercation, the man was arrested. At hospital, he was diagnosed with a fracture of the anterior wall of the right maxillary sinus and a broken nose. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the 21-year-old man’s arrest and injuries.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES