News Release
SIU Terminates Kitchener Investigation as Man’s Injury in Cell Determined to be Self-Inflicted
Case Number: 20-OCI-279
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained by a 32-year-old man last month in Kitchener.
On October 20, 2020, the man was arrested by Waterloo Regional Police Service officers in Kitchener on two counts of breaching an undertaking. The man was subsequently taken to the police station and lodged in a cell. The following day, the man attended WASH (weekend and statutory holiday) court and was then escorted back to the cell. He then slapped the stainless-steel sink/toilet in his cell, fracturing his right hand in the process.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of the cell video, I am satisfied that there is patently nothing further to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the man’s injury. The evidence establishes that the man, and he alone, is responsible for what was a self-inflicted injury. In the circumstances, the investigation is hereby discontinued and he 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