News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation in Niagara
Case Number: 18-OCI-122
The Acting Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an injury reportedly sustained by a 46-year-old man in Niagara. The incident was alleged to have taken place in April of 2016 and the SIU was made aware of it in April of this year.
SIU investigators made several attempts to locate the man and to speak with him regarding his complaint. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, SIU investigators were unable to locate the man for an interview.
Acting Director Martino said, “In the circumstances of this case, involving injuries purported to have occurred over two years ago, the absence of a statement from the complainant, and the lack of medical authorization to obtain medical records to confirm the nature and extent of the injuries in question, there is simply insufficient foundation at this time upon which to proceed with an investigation. As such, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
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