News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Sault Ste. Marie Arrest
Case Number: 24-OCI-529
In the morning of December 11, 2024, Emergency Service Unit members of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service convened outside a house in the downtown. A search warrant naming a 46-year-old male tenant had been issued in respect of a homicide investigation in York Region. The team forced their way into the home and went upstairs to the apartment. As they prepared to forcibly enter the apartment, the door opened to reveal the person of interest. The man was forced to the ground and handcuffed by an officer. He lost several teeth in the altercation. 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES