News Release
SIU Discontinues Carlsbad Springs Investigation
Case Number: 21-OOI-032
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries sustained last month by a 51-year-old man in Carlsbad Springs.
In the morning of January 26, 2021, the man was at home when he took a phone call from a detective with the Ottawa Police Service, who informed the man that he was under investigation in relation to an incident. Following the news, the man slit his wrists and shot himself using a nail gun. He was transported to hospital for treatment of his serious injuries.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of Emergency Medical Services and police communication recordings, 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 injuries. On this record, it is evident that the man is alone responsible for the grievous injuries he self-inflicted. 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