News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Dog Bite Injury During Sudbury Arrest

Case Number: 26-OCI-007   

Mississauga, ON (4 May, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Greater Sudbury Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured nose suffered by a 31-year-old man during his arrest. Officers arrested the man after the man assaulted a woman and broken into a home on Notre Dame Street East and St. Agnes Street to escape police. The man was hiding in a crawl space under the stairs when police deployed the police dog to aid in the arrest.

Director Martino found the use of the dog made sense as the officers had reason to believe that the man had just been violent and could be armed with a gun. He was also concealed a dark crawl space, presenting a real and present danger of harm to the officers, Director Martino concluded. The use of the police dog made sense in the circumstances as it would assist in distracting and controlling the man until such time as he could safely be removed from under the staircase and handcuffed.

The man was treated for a broken right small finger as a result of the dog bite.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):

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