News Release
Man’s Injury in Cell Self-inflicted; SIU Terminates Barrie Investigation
Case Number: 19-OCI-301
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained last month by a 37-year-old man while he was lodged in a police station cell in Barrie.
On December 8, 2019, Barrie Police Service officers arrested the man and transported him to police headquarters where he was lodged in a cell. While inside, the man repeatedly struck the Plexiglas of the cell with his right hand. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured right hand.
Director Martino said, “Following the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it is apparent that the man’s injury was self-inflicted. The video recordings of the man’s booking and time in cells are definitive in this regard. Consequently, as there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer or officers is concerned, the SIU 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