News Release
Man Fractured Heels After Jumping From Window; SIU Discontinues Blackstock Investigation
Case Number: 21-OCI-068
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries sustained earlier this month in Blackstock by a 31-year-old man.
In the afternoon of March 2, 2021, Durham Regional Police Service officers attended a home in Blackstock to arrest the man. When officers announced themselves at the door, the man jumped from a second-floor window in an attempt to escape apprehension, landing on the concrete ground surface. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with two fractured heels.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU 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 injuries. On this record, it is evident that the man is alone responsible for his injuries. 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