News Release
SIU Terminates Walkerton Investigation; Man’s Apparent Injury a Result of Punching Cell Wall
Case Number: 24-PCI-437
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 31-year-old man in October while lodged in an OPP Walkerton cell.
In the early morning of October 13, 2024, the man was arrested in Paisley for impaired driving. He was transported to the OPP Walkerton Detachment and lodged in cells. While in the cell, the man repeatedly punched the cell wall. When it appeared the man might have suffered an injury to his right hand, he was transported to hospital
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of video footage, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. As the man did not avail himself of an interview with the SIU, the SIU was unable to access his medical records to ascertain whether he did, in fact, suffer a serious injury. Assuming the man did suffer a serious injury to his right hand, as appears to have been the understanding of the police when they took him to hospital, it would have been a result of the man repeatedly punching the cell walls. On this record, there being an insufficient showing of ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s jurisdiction, and patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned, the file has been closed.
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