News Release
Police Officers did not Resort to an Excessive Use of Force When Arresting Man in St. Catharines; No Basis to Lay Charges
Case Number: 17-OCI-296
Shortly after midnight on October 7, 2017, a Niagara Regional Police Service officer became aware of a disturbance between individuals on James Street. As a result of his investigation, the officer arrested a 23-year-old man for public intoxication. The following day, the man attended hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the officer in relation to the man’s arrest.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=2926
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