News Release
Hamilton Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 12-OCI-235
Mississauga (26 September, 2012) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has reasonable grounds to believe that a Hamilton Police Service (HPS) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by a 16-year-old male in July of 2012. Director Scott has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that on July 22, 2012, in the afternoon hours, the youth was arrested, taken to the police station and lodged in a cell. As a result of an interaction in the cell between the male and an officer, he sustained a broken tooth and other facial injuries. He was taken to Hamilton General Hospital for treatment.
As a result of the SIU investigation, HPS Constable Ryan Gagnon is facing one charge of Assault Causing Bodily Harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 45 Main Street East in Hamilton on November 6, 2012. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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