News Release
Tackle of Man Deemed Necessary for Safe Apprehension; SIU Closes St. Catharines Investigation
Case Number: 24-OCI-457
In the afternoon of October 25, 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service officers were dispatched to a shopping plaza in St. Catharines following 911 calls of a man causing a disturbance – he was acting strangely, swinging his cane and damaging a vehicle. Upon learning that the man had left and gone to his apartment, officers made their way there. The man let the officers into his residence. When the officers mentioned a visit to the hospital, the man became belligerent and made his way to the balcony. Concerned that the man intended to do himself harm, an officer tackled the man and a struggle ensued. The officers were eventually able to handcuff the man. The man was taken to hospital, diagnosed with a fractured vertebra, and admitted for psychiatric examination. 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 50-year-old man’s arrest and injury.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES