News Release
No Criminal Wrongdoing Found in Relation to Hamilton Arrest
Case Number: 20-OCI-102
Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OCI-102
On the morning of May 4, 2020, the superintendent of a building contacted police to report the presence of a minivan, parked but running, in a driveway by the building. Inside the minivan were two men who appeared to be passed out. Officers arrived and surrounded the vehicle with their cruisers. Shortly after, the officers opened both front doors of the minivan. The passenger was removed and taken into custody without incident. The 27-year-old man sitting on the driver’s side was roused by the officers, and an interaction ensued. He was eventually arrested. The man was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with fractures of the left orbital bone and nose. 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 injuries.
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