News Release
No Criminal Wrongdoing Found in Relation to Peterborough County Arrest
Case Number: 20-PCI-123
On May 26, 2020, Ontario Provincial Police officers initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle in Peterborough County for the purpose of arresting one of the vehicle occupants – a 39-year-old man – in relation to a theft investigation. In the course of the arrest, a struggle ensued. The man was eventually subdued and taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injuries.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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