News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Girl’s Broken Arm After Apprehension in Cambridge

Case Number: 26-OCI-269   

Mississauga, ON (2 October, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Waterloo Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of an 11-year-old girl.  On June 8, 2026, officers were dispatched to a residence in Cambridge to check on the girl’s wellbeing. While she was apprehended as a child in need of protection, she resisted in the confined stairwell and her arm was forced into an awkward position. She was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured left arm.

Director Martino found the injury was a highly regrettable consequence of the officers’ interventions, but not the result of any excessive force.

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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES