News Release
Arrest of Man in London was Lawful; SIU Closes File
Case Number: 19-OCI-186
On August 9, 2019, London Police Service (LPS) officers were dispatched to a residence for a domestic incident. When the first officer arrived, a 30-year-old man was brandishing a toy knife and goading the officer to fight him. The officer ordered the man to drop the knife and, when the man did not cooperate, the officer took the man to the floor. Other officers arrived to assist with the arrest. While in police cells, the man complained of pain in his right hand. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with having sustained a fractured metacarpal. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that whether or not the first officer caused or contributed to the man’s injury, there is no basis to believe that the officer acted other than lawfully in his dealings with the man.
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