News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation in Chatham
Case Number: 06-OCI-027
Two SIU investigators were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding the man's serious injury. The SIU investigation determined that on that date, CKPS officers went to 57 Baldoon Avenue to execute a drug search warrant. When the officers arrived at the apartment, there were no occupants present. While the warrant was being executed, three men arrived at the home. A 20-year-old man ran when he saw the police officers and jumped from the second floor landing of the stairway to the first floor landing. The man was taken to hospital where he was treated for a broken leg.
The Director of the SIU, James Cornish, has exercised his discretion and decided to terminate the investigation based on the evidence gathered to date. He stated, "Under all the circumstances and, in particular, the unanimous evidence of all witnesses both police and civilian, that this man broke his leg as a result of vaulting the stair rails and jumping to the first floor landing, there is patently nothing further to investigate."
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