News Release
SIU Terminates Mississauga Arrest Investigation
Case Number: 19-OCI-090
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 44-year-old woman last month in Mississauga.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on April 21, 2019, the woman was arrested by Peel Regional Police officers at a motel in Mississauga on outstanding warrants. She was charged and lodged in a correctional facility. On April 29, 2018, the woman was transported to hospital after complaining of abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with having a lacerated spleen.
Interim Director Martino said, “Following the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it is apparent that there is patently nothing to investigate as regards the potential criminal liability of any police officer in relation to the woman’s injuries, which pre-existed her arrest by officers on April 21, 2019. Accordingly, the SIU’s 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