News Release
SIU CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION IN LONDON
Case Number: 08-OCI-249
On November 21, 2008 members of the LPS Emergency Response Unit executed a search warrant at a Commissioner Road address. When the officers entered the residence they located two men. During the course of the investigation one of the men, a 19-year-old, became involved in a physical altercation with two of the officers that were present. This man received a facial injury that required medical treatment at Victoria Hospital.
The SIU assigned three investigators along with two forensic investigators to the circumstances surrounding this incident.
The Deputy Director said, "Officers of the LPS forcibly entered an apartment to execute a search warrant. A 19-year-old man physically resisted the officers immediately upon the officers' entry into the apartment. The man struggled with the officers as they attempted to affect his apprehension." Mr. Cornish added, "The evidence indicates that the officers did indeed use force to overcome the man's resistance. I am satisfied that the force used was a measured and reasonably necessary response to the resistance posed by the man, and fell well within the limits prescribed by the Criminal Code of Canada."
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