News Release
SIU Discontinues London Investigation
Case Number: 19-PCI-260
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 24-year-old man earlier this month by Ontario Provincial Police officers in London.
On November 3, 2019, the man had been operating a reportedly stolen vehicle west on Highway 401 in Middlesex County. In an attempt to immobilize the vehicle, OPP officers deployed a spike belt in the area of Colonel Talbot Road. The man managed to pull his vehicle over and he then fled on foot. While running away from the officers, he fell in a ditch and injured his wrist. With the help of a police dog, officers were able to locate the man to a farmhouse. He had taken refuge inside an unlocked vehicle on the property. Prior to him being arrested, the man sustained a dog bite injury to his left bicep. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
Interim Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it is apparent that there is manifestly nothing to investigate as far as any potential criminal liability on the part of the officers is concerned in connection with the wrist injury. No police officers were present or in the vicinity when the man fell in a ditch and injured his wrist. As for the dog bite, it was superficial in nature and required no treatment other than being cleansed and bandaged. It, unlike the left wrist fracture, does not constitute a serious injury within the meaning of the SIU’s statutory jurisdiction under section 113 of the Police Services Act. 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