News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Arrest of Man in Welland

Case Number: 26-OCI-041   

Mississauga, ON (21 May, 2026) ---
In the evening of January 21, 2026, Niagara Regional Police Service officers were dispatched to an apartment in Welland after an individual called 911 to report a disturbance involving a man. The 911 caller wanted the man removed from his residence. Upon entering the apartment unit, an officer was splashed with cooking oil from a bottle by the man. The man retreated into the kitchen area and was physically engaged by the officers. He was taken to the floor and handcuffed behind the back, and then transported to a police detention facility. The next day, the man was seen at hospital and diagnosed with a fractured left wrist. 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 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