News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Smiths Falls Custody Injury

Case Number: 09-OCI-038   

TORONTO (2 July, 2009) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Ian Scott has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a Smiths Falls Police Service (SFPS) officer committed any criminal offence in relation to an injury sustained by a Smiths Falls woman in late February 2009.

The SIU assigned three investigators and two forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of the occurrence.

On February 23, 2009 three SFPS officers were dispatched to a call at a Philip Street apartment. The officers obtained permission to enter the apartment from the tenant. When the officers entered the apartment they encountered an
18 year old woman in the bedroom. This woman was armed with a knife and threatening to harm herself. When it appeared that the woman was about to stab herself, an officer discharged the Taser at the woman. The woman was disarmed and subdued. During this interaction she suffered a fracture to her left leg.

Director Ian Scott said, "In my view there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the subject officer committed criminal act in relation to the injuries suffered by the female. Once inside the officers determined the female was a danger to herself and apprehended her under the authority of the Mental Health Act. "Director Scott added, "Given the cause of this injury is more likely than not an accidental motion during the course of a lawful arrest as the subject officer was subduing the complainant, and not caused by any intentional force, I am of the view that no criminality can attach to the actions of the officers."

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