News Release
Man Responsible for Own Injury; SIU Discontinues Ottawa Investigation
Case Number: 25-OCI-011
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 34-year-old man in January in Ottawa.
On the night of January 7, 2025, the man was arrested following a call to police from a woman indicating the man had punched her multiple times. During the arrest, the man resisted police and was uncooperative. He was handcuffed behind his back and placed in the police vehicle. Due to the man’s behaviour during transport, paramedics were called. At hospital, the man was diagnosed with a fracture at the proximal metaphysis of the fifth metacarpal.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued at this time. It was determined that the fracture was consistent with an individual striking a surface or object with a closed fist, and that it was “highly unlikely that the fracture was caused by any other means”. On this record, it would appear that the man was alone responsible for his injury. As such, there being nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer, 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES