News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Man’s Arrest at Niagara Falls Motel
Case Number: 20-OCI-115
At approximately 11:15 p.m. on May 20, 2020, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers attended a motel on Lundy’s Lane after an individual called 911 to complain about the behavior of a 49-year-old man who was a resident in one of the units. After convincing the man to return to his room, the officers proceeded to leave the property. However, they were stopped by other residents who said the man had left his room and was being threatening. In the course of arresting the man, a struggle ensued before the man was secured in custody. As the man and officers were walking, the man fell and complained of pain. He was subsequently taken to hospital and reportedly diagnosed with a fractured ankle. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a NRPS officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury.
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