News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Interaction Between Man and Niagara Regional Police Service Officers
Case Number: 19-OCI-246
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a July 3, 2016 interaction between a man and police officers. The SIU became aware of the incident on October 8, 2019 when notified by the Niagara Regional Police Service.
The SIU attempted on several occasions to reach the man in order to interview him about his complaint, but those efforts proved in vain. On December 4, 2019, the man’s counsel contacted the SIU to indicate that the man would not be speaking with the SIU.
Interim Director Martino said, “In the absence of a statement from the man, I am satisfied there presently exists an insufficient foundation from which to continue with an investigation of this matter. Indeed, in the absence of a medical release from the man, the SIU is also unable to confirm the nature of his injuries for purposes of assessing its jurisdiction. In the circumstances, the investigation is hereby discontinued, and the file, 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