News Release
Refusal to Cooperate Leads SIU to Terminate Windsor Investigation
Case Number: 18-OCI-311
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a man last month in Windsor.
At approximately 1 a.m. on October 23, 2018, Windsor Police Service officers responded to a break and enter at a business on Chatham Street East. Officers located the man inside the business, and after a struggle, arrested him. Upon arriving at the police station, the man complained of pain. He was transported to hospital for treatment.
SIU investigators were not able to locate the man, but were able to speak with various individuals, including family, associated with the man. The man relayed, through those individuals, that he did not wish to provide a statement to the SIU or speak to the SIU. As the man refused to meet with investigators, a medical consent was not obtained that would have allowed confirmation of any injuries sustained.
Director Loparco said, “The man refused to cooperate with the SIU investigation. Accordingly, 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