News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into London Man’s Serious Injuries
Case Number: 21-OCI-259
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into facial injuries suffered by a man while fleeing from London Police Service officers.
In the evening of August 15, 2021, the man was riding a bicycle when he spotted a London Police Service cruiser. The man, who had warrants for his arrest, cycled away from the cruiser, and hit a fence near Dufferin Avenue and Adelaide Street North.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it was established the man was solely responsible for his injuries suffered from the impact of hitting the fence. Director Martino found that there was patently nothing to investigate in relation to potential criminal liability of any officer involved 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