News Release
SIU Closes File into Man’s Arrest in Dryden as Force Used by Police Deemed to be Legally Justified
Case Number: 18-PCI-351
In the afternoon hours of December 12, 2018, a 61-year-old man was arrested on his property in Dryden by Ontario Provincial Police officers. The man was subsequently taken to hospital while in the custody of the police and diagnosed with a fractured right wrist. The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against an OPP officer in relation to the man’s serious injury.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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