News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation Into Incident Involving the Oxford Community Police Service
Case Number: 08-OCI-239
"There are many inconsistencies in the statements of the 46-year-old complainant," concluded SIU Director Ian Scott. "There are also inconsistencies between his statements and those of others that prevent me from forming a subjective belief that the officers used excessive force during the man's arrest."
The SIU investigation began when the complainant notified the SIU to complain about injuries he allegedly received during his arrest at a residence on Peel Street in Woodstock on October 10, 2008.
During its investigation, the SIU found that the man's jaw had been fractured several weeks earlier in an unrelated incident that did not involve the police.
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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