News Release
Due to Man’s Refusal to Assist in Case, SIU Terminates Hamilton Investigation
Case Number: 18-OCI-300
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into an October 2018 interaction that occurred between a 28-year-old man and a Hamilton Police Service (HPS) officer.
At approximately 5 p.m. on October 7, 2018, HPS officers were dispatched to the area of Aberdeen Avenue and Cottage Avenue to investigate a suspicious person opening doors of parked vehicles. One of the officers located a person of interest and engaged in conversation with him. Suddenly, a struggle ensued between the man and officer. With the help of a civilian, the officer was able to handcuff the man. The man was then transported to hospital for treatment.
While SIU investigators attempted to meet with the man for an interview on several occasions, the man did not respond to any inquiries made by the SIU.
Director Loparco said, “The man would not meet with or provide SIU investigators with a statement or otherwise assist with the investigation. Further, we could not determine the extent of the injury, if any, as we did not have authorization to access the man’s medical records. 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