News Release
No Basis to Proceed with Charges in Orillia Arrest Case
Case Number: 20-PCI-118
On May 21, 2020, a 30-year-old man suffered a fractured scapula in the course of being arrested by Ontario Provincial Police officers in Orillia. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an arresting 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