News Release
Man Lodged in Collingwood OPP Cell Declines Release of Medical Records; SIU Terminates Investigation
Case Number: 19-PCI-118
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the injury sustained by a 41-year-old man earlier this month while he was in the Collingwood detachment Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cell.
On June 3, 2019, the man was arrested for impaired driving. He was taken to the Collingwood OPP detachment and lodged in a cell. Shortly after, the man rammed his upper body into the bars of the cell. He was transported to hospital for treatment.
Interim Director Martino said, “As the man has declined to authorize the release of his medical records, the SIU is unable to confirm the nature and extent of any injuries he may have suffered. In the result, I am satisfied that there is an insufficient basis to proceed with an investigation and the file is hereby 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