News Release
SIU Terminates Oshawa Investigation Due to No Serious Injury Sustained
Case Number: 19-OCI-077
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the April 2019 arrest of a 35-year-old man in Oshawa.
On the night of April 6, 2019, Durham Regional Police Service officers arrested a man in the area of Athol Street East and Drew Street in Oshawa. He was taken to the police station where he was lodged in a cell. He was released from custody the following day. A few days later, the man attended a medical facility for treatment of injuries.
Interim Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of the man’s medical records, it is evident that he did not suffer any fractures in the course of his interactions with police officers on April 6, 2019. Accordingly, as there is no ‘serious injury’, the SIU is without jurisdiction to continue its investigation and the file is 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