News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Injury Sustained by Man While in Brampton Courthouse Cell
Case Number: 19-OCI-093
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained in April by a 29-year-old man.
On April 30, 2019, the man was lodged in a cell at the A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse in Brampton. When the man used wet toilet paper to obscure the camera lens cover of the cell surveillance camera, special constables attended the cell and handcuffed the man. The special constables then departed the cell. A short time later, the man stood atop a privacy wall in the cell. As the special constables returned to the cell equipped with leg shackles, the man attempted to step onto a nearby bench. He fell, landing on his right arm on the edge of the bench. He was transported to hospital for treatment.
Interim Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a video recording of the events in question, it is evident that the man caused the fractured right shoulder he was reported to have suffered when he fell from his cell bench onto the floor of his cell. As it is manifestly clear at this time that no police officer caused or contributed to the man’s injury in any fashion that could attract criminal liability, 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