News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Incident in Hamilton's Entertainment District
Case Number: 08-OCI-182
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OCI-182
SIU Appeals for Witnesses to an Incident Involving Officers of the Hamilton Police Service
On Saturday September 6, 2008 at approximately 1:30 a.m., officers responded to a disturbance call in front of the Hess Street Pub in the city's downtown core between Main and King Streets. Officers investigated a 20-year-old man, who was openly drinking beer on the street contrary to the Liquor Licence Act. When he refused to pour the beer out, the officers took the bottle of beer away from the man and attempted to issue him a summons. The man responded by punching one of the police officers in the face. A struggle ensued with the man and the officers falling to the ground. It was later learned during an examination at hospital that the man suffered a fractured jaw.
"The officers had the right to use as much force as was reasonably necessary as provided for by the Criminal Code," concluded SIU Director Ian Scott. "Given the complainant's degree of resistance during the course of the arrest in which one officer was punched in the face, it is my opinion that the force used was not excessive."
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Commenting on the police use of the Taser, Mr. Scott concluded: "The complainant was told that it would be deployed if he continued to resist arrest. He chose to ignore this warning and the Taser was used. Once again, given his high degree of resistance to the lawful arrest, it is my opinion that this use of force was not excessive."
During the course of its investigation, the SIU interviewed both subject officers, eight witness officers and six civilian witnesses. The investigators reviewed material from the Hamilton Police Service including communication tapes and a video of the booking area of the police station.
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