News Release
Force Used by Officers to Arrest Teenager in Belleville Determined to be Legally Justified
Case Number: 19-OCI-075
On April 11, 2019, 911 received a call reporting that a 16-year-old female had ingested an unknown quantity of prescription medication, and she had locked herself in the bathroom and was threatening to harm herself. Belleville Police Service officers attended the residence. When the teenager refused to unlock the bathroom door, officers forced their way in. Following an interaction, the officers eventually managed to arrest her. The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges in relation to this incident.
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