News Release
No Evidence of Serious Injury; SIU Discontinues Investigation in Brantford
Case Number: 21-OCI-265
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a purported serious injury suffered by a 25-year-old man during his arrest in Brantford last month.
On August 18, 2021, the man was arrested by a Brantford Police Service officer for trespassing on the premises of a building on Market Street. After his release, the man was reportedly diagnosed with a fractured right arm.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, however, it does not appear the man fractured his arm, or suffered any other serious injury. Accordingly, as the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction in this case, the file has been 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES