News Release
SIU Discontinues Brampton Arrest Investigation as Man’s Injury Deemed as Not Serious
Case Number: 19-OCI-239
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an interaction earlier this month between a 26-year-old male and Peel Regional Police officers.
In the early morning hours of October 2, 2019, the man was arrested by PRP officers in the area of Hansen Street North and Queen Street East. When the man complained of pain to his face, he was transported to hospital for treatment. At the time, it was believed that the man had suffered a broken nose.
Interim Director Martino said, “A review of the man’s medical records establishes that he did not, in fact, fracture his nose. Accordingly, as it is apparent based on the SIU preliminary inquiries that he did not in fact sustain a “serious injury” for purposes of the SIU’s mandate, the SIU is without jurisdiction to continue with 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