News Release
SIU Updates Investigation in Belleville
Case Number: 05-OCI-171
Other News Releases Related to Case 05-OCI-171
The SIU was notified that on November 4, 2005, at about 6:20 p.m., the Belleville Police Service (BPS) received a call about a man who was on top of the roof of the City Hotel. Police, fire and emergency medical personnel responded to the call.
When the BPS officers arrived, they attempted to talk with the man who was on the roof. A short time later, the man swung over the side of the roof and fell approximately 42 feet, landing on the pavement. He was taken to Kingston General Hospital where he is in critical condition.
Six SIU investigators are probing the circumstances and extent of police involvement in the man's serious injuries. The SIU has designated two subject and four witness officers from the BPS. To date, 11 civilian witness interviewed have been completed, with more expected this week.
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