News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Serious Injuries Reportedly Suffered by Man During Arrest in Peel Region
Case Number: 21-OCI-337
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries reportedly suffered by a 33-year-old man during his arrest by Peel Regional Police officers in August 2020.
The incident was reported to the SIU by the man’s counsel on October 6, 2021.
On August 25, 2020, officers discharged a conducted energy weapon at the man before his arrest. Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, the man was taken to hospital and was found to have not suffered serious injury.
Director Martino concluded that the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction in the matter. Accordingly, 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