News Release
SIU Lays Assault Charges Against Police Officers in Relation to Belleville Arrest
Case Number: 20-OCI-233
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe that two Belleville Police Service (BPS) officers committed a criminal offence in relation to the arrest of a 28-year-old man in September of 2020. As a result, Director Martino has caused a charge to be laid against each of the officers.
The SIU investigation determined that on September 22, 2020, three men were arrested after Belleville Police Service officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Coleman Street. One of the men later complained of pain and was subsequently transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, BPS Constable Matthew Sweet and BPS Sergeant Kyle King have each been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code.
The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 15 Bridge Street West in Belleville on March 18, 2021.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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