News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Windsor Arrest
Case Number: 19-OCI-136
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 36-year-old man last month in Windsor.
At approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019, Windsor Police Service officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Erie Street and Parent Avenue. The driver of the vehicle fled on foot and eventually climbed a fire escape at the rear of a building on Erie Street. Next, he climbed into the window of an apartment building – located above a business – where he was involved in an altercation with two occupants. The man then jumped out of the front window and was subsequently arrested by police officers. The man was taken to hospital for treatment of an injury.
The man refused to be interviewed by SIU investigators and he declined to sign a medical release.
Interim Director Martino said, “In the absence of a statement from the man, there is an insufficient basis from which to proceed with an investigation of the potential criminal liability of the officers involved in his arrest. Indeed, the SIU cannot even be certain of its jurisdiction in this matter as the man has refused to authorize the release of medical records that would confirm the nature of his injury. Accordingly, based on the results of the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, 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