News Release
Man Fractured Wrist when He Punched Cell Door; SIU Terminates Windsor Investigation
Case Number: 19-OCI-032
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained by a 37-year-old man last month in Windsor.
On February 6, 2019, Windsor Police Service officers arrested the man at his home in relation to a domestic matter. The following day, the man attended court and was remanded in custody. Shortly after being lodged in a cell, the man punched the cell door. EMS transported the man to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured wrist.
Director Loparco said, “The video evidence establishes the man caused his fractured right wrist when he himself punched the cell door. 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