News Release
No Basis for Proceeding with Charges in North Bay Arrest Case
Case Number: 20-PCI-068
On March 30, 2020, OPP officers convened in North Bay with a view to arresting a 38-year-old man on drug possession and trafficking charges. It was their plan to arrest the man once he stepped out of the house. Shortly before 6:30 p.m., the man, in the company of a female, exited the home on Percy Street and travelled on foot eastward on the north sidewalk of Cassells Street. The officers approached, and following a brief struggle on the ground, the man was handcuffed and taken into custody by the officers. The following morning, the man was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a broken clavicle. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there is no basis for proceeding with charges in this case and the file is closed.
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