News Release
SIU Discontinues St. Catharines Investigation
Case Number: 19-OCI-191
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 68-year-old man last month in St. Catharines.
In the morning hours of August 13, 2019, Niagara Regional Police Service officers responded to the area of Gale Crescent and Riordon Street in regard to the reported behavior of a man. The man was arrested, and then transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with an orbital bone fracture.
Interim Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a conversation with the man in which he declined to speak about what happened or sign a medical waiver authorizing the release of his medical records, I am satisfied there is an insufficient basis at this time from which to proceed with a full investigation. Consequently, the investigation is hereby discontinued, 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