News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Broken Wrist Suffered by Man in Ottawa
Case Number: 21-OCI-225
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into Ottawa Police Service officers after it was found that a 24-year-old man whom they had arrested had suffered a broken wrist prior to his interaction with police.
In the evening of July 17, 2021, the man was arrested by the Ottawa Police Service for causing a disturbance in and around a shelter on Murray Street. Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino found the injury happened before the man’s arrest by police. Therefore, the investigation has been discontinued and 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