News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Stratford Arrest

Case Number: 26-OCI-101   

Mississauga, ON (5 June, 2026) ---
In the afternoon of March 3, 2026, a Stratford Police Service officer observed a man – who was subject to a warrant for his arrest – in the area of Downie Street and Whitelock Street. The officer contacted uniformed personnel to respond to the area. Shortly after, as an officer in a police cruiser pulled up to the man, the man commenced running in the reverse direction. The initial officer ran across the street and tackled the man to the ground. A struggle ensued. With the assistance of additional officers arriving on scene, the man was arrested. The 57-year-old was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a right orbital bone fracture. 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