News Release
SIU Concludes Probe into Sault Ste. Marie Man's Injuries
Case Number: 07-OCI-214
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-OCI-214
Three investigators, including one forensic identification technician, from the SIU were assigned to probe the circumstances surrounding this incident.
Investigators determined that at 8:33 a.m. on October 24, 2007, the Sault Ste. Marie Police was called to the Sault Ste. Marie Hospital to investigate a report of an elderly man armed with a gun. Officers arrived and learned the man was in a hospital room on the second floor. Hospital staff cleared the surrounding area around the room. A short time later, the man came out into the hallway with his hand in his pocket. The officers ordered him to take his hand out of his pocket and stop. He ignored their directions and continued to walk towards them. He was forced to the ground by a ballistic shield one of the officers was carrying. Once the man's hands were secured, the officers located what appeared to be a pistol in the man's pocket. Upon investigation by the officers the pistol turned out to be a BB gun. During the course of the arrest, the man suffered a cut to his head and a broken elbow.
Director Cornish said, "I have no hesitation in concluding that the officers used nothing more than reasonable force in apprehending Mr. Chapman. As far as anybody knew other than Mr. Chapman, Mr. Chapman was armed with a firearm and had given every indication of a willingness to use it."
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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