News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into South River Arrest
Case Number: 24-PCI-473
In the morning of November 5, 2024, a 29-year-old man was at a gas station, 314 Highway 124, when an unmarked police cruiser pulled up to him. Two officers emerged from the cruiser and approached the vehicle, advising the man he was under arrest for a drug offence. The man accelerated away southbound on Highway 124. The officers returned to the cruiser and pursued the vehicle. Soon after, the man brought the vehicle to a stop and exited the vehicle. Following a struggle with officers, the man was arrested. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with three fractured left ribs and a collapsed lung. 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 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES