News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into OPP Arrest as No Serious Injury Sustained
Case Number: 20-PCI-148
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an interaction that occurred in March between a 20-year-old man and Ontario Provincial Police officers.
At approximately 1: 20 a.m. on March 21, 2020, OPP officers stopped the man’s vehicle after being clocked at 55 km/h, over the posted speed limit along Highway 10. Police officers spoke with the man and stated his vehicle would have to be towed for stunt driving. The man became aggressive with police officers. He had to be physically restrained and was taken to a local hospital.
Director Martino said, “ It is apparent that the SIU is without jurisdiction in this matter. A review of the man’s medical records established the man neither suffered any fractures nor a concussion. Accordingly, he did not suffer any “serious injury” for the purposes of the SIU’s statutory jurisdiction, the 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