News Release
SIU Discontinues Sudbury Investigation as Man’s Broken Hand a Result of Punching Wall
Case Number: 20-OCI-241
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained by a 22-year-old man last month in Sudbury.
On September 26, 2020, the man was arrested by members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) for uttering threats and assault. He was subsequently taken to GSPS holding cells where he was lodged. At approximately 2:50 p.m. the following day, the man was escorted to another room where he learned, through a video conference, that he had just been remanded in custody. Shortly after, the man punched a wall inside the video conference room. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken right metacarpal.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of video recordings taken of the man’s time in custody, it is evident that the man is alone to blame for his broken hand. On this record, as there is patently nothing to further investigate regarding the potential criminal liability of any police officer in connection with the man’s fracture, 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