News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Custody Injury in West Nipissing
Case Number: 06-PCI-058
Four SIU investigators were assigned to investigate the circumstances of Mr. Kingsley's arrest that had resulted in a broken jaw. The SIU investigation determined that on April 10, 2006, OPP officers from the North Bay detachment were asked to assist the West Nipissing Police Service in a double homicide investigation. The police identified Rheal Kingsley as the suspect and believed he was barricaded in his home in West Nipissing.
At about 2:30 p.m. on April 10th, OPP officers from the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and the Tactics and Rescue Unit (TRU), went to 247 Cockburn Road to apprehend Mr. Kingsley. The police secured the area around the home and initiated negotiations with Mr. Kingsley. A short time later, Mr. Kingsley exited the home to tend to his dogs. He was carrying a shotgun. The police moved in and arrested Mr. Kingsley. After his arrest, he was taken to hospital where x-rays revealed Mr. Kingsley had a broken jaw.
Director Cornish stated that although Mr. Kingsley suffered his serious injury in the course of the arrest, he believed that the amount of force used was reasonable in the circumstances and that Mr. Kingsley's injury was unintended.
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