News Release
SIU Terminates Guelph Investigation
Case Number: 20-OCI-332
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest last month of a 44-year-old man in Guelph.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. on November 29, 2020, Guelph Police Service officers responded to a residence on Alma Street North in relation to a domestic incident. As officers attempted to arrest a man, a struggle ensued. The man was apprehended, and shortly after was released at the scene. The man later contacted the police service to report that he had sustained injuries as he was being taken into custody.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it is apparent that the man did not suffer a “serious injury” within the terms of the SIU’s statutory jurisdiction. The man did not seek assessment or treatment at any medical facility and did not suffer any fractures or serious injuries during the encounter. In the circumstances, as the SIU is without jurisdiction to investigate the matter, 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