News Release
No Charges Against Guelph Police Officer After Woman Suffers Concussion
Case Number: 21-OCI-321
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Guelph Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a concussion suffered by a 43-year-old woman in 2017.
On October 3, 2017, officers arrested the woman for assault. While entering the main entrance into the lobby at police headquarters, she was grounded by the subject official.
Subsequently, while in the booking area, the woman kicked the officer’s right leg. The officer struck her face with an open hand, forced her down onto the bench, and pinned her down for a few seconds. She was released from custody the same day, and went to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a concussion.
Director Martino said he was unable to reasonably conclude that the force used by the officer was excessive. With specific reference to the strike used by the officer, Director Martino said he had just been assaulted and was entitled in the moment to take immediate action to deter any further attack on his person. The file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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