News Release
While Actions of Stratford Police Service Officer were Deemed Unnecessary in Arrest of Man, SIU Determines No Reasonable Grounds to Lay Charges
Case Number: 17-OCI-178
On July 3, 2017, police officers with the Stratford Police Service attended a residence to check on the well-being of a 52-year-old man who had made comments about taking his own life. The man was subsequently apprehended pursuant to the Mental Health Act. During that apprehension, the man fell to the ground, struck his head and briefly lost consciousness. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion. While critical of the actions of one of the responding officers, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges in relation to this incident.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=3022
The Director’s Report was delivered to the Attorney General, as is required by law under the Police Services Act. The Attorney General has directed that the document be posted online.
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
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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES