News Release
Man Injured After Falling Out of Apartment Bedroom Window; SIU Terminates Collingwood Investigation
Case Number: 20-PCI-356
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury sustained last month by a 42-year-old man in Collingwood.
On December 17, 2020, Ontario Provincial Police officers attended a strip mall in Collingwood which had businesses on the ground floor and apartment units on the second floor. The officers had information that unwanted individuals were in one of the units. While officers were outside the apartment unit door, a man from inside the unit attempted to escape through a bedroom window to avoid apprehension. In so doing, the man fell about five metres to the ground below, fracturing his right wrist in the process.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, I am satisfied that there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the man’s injury. Neither of the police officers who were at the door were in the apartment at the time of the man’s fall. On this record, it is apparent that the man is alone responsible for his injuries. Accordingly, 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