News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into North Bay Apprehension of Woman
Case Number: 20-OCI-104
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the January apprehension of a 27-year-old woman in North Bay. The SIU was made aware of the incident on May 6, 2020.
On the morning of January 16, 2020, Emergency Medical Services was dispatched to a residence to provide medical attention to the woman. A short time later, North Bay Police Service officers were requested to attend the residence to assist the paramedics. The woman was apprehended by police and taken to hospital where she was held under the authority of the Mental Health Act. The woman reportedly sustained a fractured arm in the course of her apprehension.
Director Martino said, “Following the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, in which the woman has made it clear through her lawyer that she does not wish to provide a statement to the SIU, nor have the SIU investigate her complaint, I hereby discontinue the SIU investigation. In the absence of an interview with the woman, there is simply an insufficient evidentiary foundation from which to proceed with a full investigation. Accordingly, 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