News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Self-Inflicted Injury in Sault Ste. Marie
Case Number: 21-PCI-237
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the self-inflicted injury of a man in July.
On July 30, 2021, Ontario Provincial Police officers attended the man’s residence in Sault Ste. Marie to arrest him for breaching the terms of a probation order. The man met the officers at the door and then walked to his bedroom to retrieve a knife. With the knife in hand, he went through the main doorway, and in the officers’ presence, he cut his throat. Officers immediately rendered first aid and called for an ambulance. The man was taken to hospital and treated for his injury.
Director Martino concluded that on this record, it was clear that there was nothing the officers did or failed to do in connection to the man’s act of self-harm. Accordingly, the investigation was discontinued.
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
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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES