News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Rib Fractures in OPP Huron County Custody

Case Number: 26-PCI-103   

Mississauga, ON (30 June, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the left-side rib fractures suffered by a 69-year-old man. On March 4, 2026, the man was arrested in relation to an incident at City Hall in Wingham that had occurred the month prior. While he was being returned to a cell at the Clinton detachment, the man struggled with officers and was forced to the floor. The officer put his right knee on the left side of the man’s back. Paramedics took him to hospital where he was treated.

Director Martino found no indication in the video footage that the officer used his knee against the man in a swinging motion, or that he intentionally dropped his knee onto his back with significant force. While he accepted that the man’s ribs were fractured when the officer applied a knee to his back, there were no reasonable grounds to attribute the injuries to unlawful conduct on the part of the officer.

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