News Release
SIU Terminates Cambridge Investigation as Man’s Injuries Self-Inflicted
Case Number: 19-OCI-061
Other News Releases Related to Case 19-OCI-061
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an interaction that occurred last month in Cambridge between Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) officers and a 19-year-old man.
On the morning of March 23, 2019, the man entered the Select Shooting Supplies store in Cambridge. Shortly after a verbal exchange between the man and store owner, the man proceeded to attack the store owner with a knife. WRPS officers responded and attempted to arrest the man in the store, but he was able to break free and avoid apprehension. By the time further officers arrived in the area, located the man in a vacant lot a short distance away and took him into custody, he had already cut his neck and wrists.
Interim Director Martino said, “It is evident on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries into the circumstance surrounding the man’s injuries, that they were intentionally self-inflicted in a moment of acute mental distress. On this record, it is patent that none of the officers involved in this incident caused or contributed to his injuries in any fashion that could attract criminal liability. Accordingly, the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file closed.”
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