News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Woodstock Arrest

Case Number: 25-OCI-375   

Mississauga, ON (14 January, 2026) ---
In the evening of September 18, 2025, a Woodstock Police Service officer was on patrol when he observed two motorcyclists on Highway 401 riding together without licence plates affixed to their vehicles. Intending to stop them for a Highway Traffic Act infraction, the officer followed them as they exited the highway. The motorcyclists pulled up to a gas pump when in front of them appeared a marked police pick-up truck. One of the motorcyclists accelerated away from the cruiser and left the gas station. The other motorcyclist also attempted to drive away from the scene but he was tackled to the ground by the officer. The man landed awkwardly resulting in him suffering a fractured left ankle. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the 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.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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