News Release
No Charges in Broken Ribs Suffered by Man During Arrest in Mississauga
Case Number: 21-OCI-134
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Peel Regional Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a man’s arrest and two fractured ribs.
On the afternoon of April 24, 2021, officers were dispatched to the area of a business at 375 Dundas Street East. The 911 caller indicated two people were behaving in a threatening fashion. The man had pulled a knife and threatened to stab the 911 caller.
During his arrest, the man resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer grounded the man before kneeing the man’s left side and delivering multiple punches to his torso. After his arrest, the man was taken to the police station and put into a cell. The following morning, he was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with two rib fractures on his left side.
Director Martino found the use of force was not excessive, adding that police had reason to believe the man was armed with a knife and the man struggled with officers – repeatedly attempting to get up despite being told to remain on the ground. In conclusion, Director Martino concluded there was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges against the officer, and the file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1520
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES