News Release
SIU Terminates Mississauga Arrest Investigation
Case Number: 19-OCI-096
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest last month of a 29-year-old man in Mississauga.
On the night of May 2, 2019, Peel Regional Police officers were dispatched to the Diamonds Tavern after receiving information regarding an assault and alleged threats being made by a man. As officers arrived at the establishment, the man fled from them, but he was subsequently arrested. The man was then transported to hospital for treatment of an injury.
When SIU investigators located the man, he declined to provide them with any information surrounding his interaction with the police officers. In addition, the man would not give investigators written authorization to obtain his medical information relevant to the incident.
Interim Director Martino said, “In the absence of a statement from the man and an authorization from him permitting the release of medical records, the SIU is unable to confirm the nature and extent of the injuries he suffered, much less proceed with an investigation into the potential criminal liability of the officers who arrested him on May 2, 2019. 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