News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Arrest of Man outside Hamilton Grocery Store
Case Number: 17-OCI-342
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the injury sustained by a 36-year-old man who was arrested in November of 2017 for shoplifting.
At approximately 5:30 p.m. on November 19, 2017, the man was outside of the No Frills grocery store located on Main Street East when he was arrested for shoplifting by a Loss Prevention Officer. Hamilton Police Service officers arrived, took custody of the man and transported him to the police station. The next day, the man complained of pain, and as a result, was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
Director Loparco said, “The evidence demonstrates that the man’s injury was incurred prior to his interaction with the police. Accordingly, I have terminated the 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