News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Fractured Vertebrae During Arrest by Officers in York Region
Case Number: 24-OVI-440
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a York Regional Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 36-year-old man in King. In the early morning of October 16, 2024, a team of officers working to combat auto theft in York Region converged on a Mazda at the intersection of Jane Street and Lloydtown-Aurora Road.
Officers surrounded the Mazda in unmarked police vehicles. The driver of the Mazda tried to drive away, striking one of the officer’s vehicles, and in turn another officer struck the Mazda with their vehicle. Two of the occupants were arrested while the third, the complainant, was pulled from the rear of the vehicle and taken to the ground before being handcuffed.
Director Joseph Martino concluded that the officer acted reasonably when ramming the vehicle as it was apparent that the driver was attempting to get away and noted it happened at relatively low speed. He also found the evidence fell short of establishing that excessive force was used to extricate the man from the Mazda.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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