News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation in Belleville
Case Number: 05-OCI-171
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-OCI-171
On November 4, 2005, the man fell from the top of the roof of the City Hotel in Belleville and suffered multiple fractures and a serious head injury. He was treated at Kingston General Hospital and on November 28, 2005, transferred to a continuing care facility.
The SIU investigation revealed that on that date at 6:10 p.m., the BPS received a call from a man who was sitting on the roof of the City Hotel. Police, fire and emergency medical personnel were sent to the scene. The police closed off the street and officers maintained crowd control and scene security.
One BPS officer climbed an aerial tower onto the roof and saw the man talking on a cellular telephone. The man immediately told the officer to stay away and not to come any closer. Moments later, the officer advised the police dispatcher he had engaged the man in conversation and sat about 25 feet away from the man as he spoke with him.
Three more BPS officers, including a trained negotiator, climbed onto the roof and took up various positions. One of these officers moved to within 10 feet of the man and also started speaking with him.
Moments later, the man put his phone down and climbed over the edge so that he was hanging by his fingertips. One of the subject officers, who was about 8 to 10 feet away from the man, asked him for his hand. The rest of the officers gathered together and quickly talked about how they could grab the man and prevent anyone from going over the edge. Seconds later, the man fell to the ground.
Having reviewed all the available evidence, the Director concluded that the involved officers did nothing to cause or contribute to this man's tragic injuries. He stated, "They were dealing with an emotionally distraught man, in a volatile situation that unfolded in a setting that posed significant risk to all involved, given the very dangerous circumstances that existed on this sloping old roof."
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