News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Fall from Roof of Thunder Bay Residence
Case Number: 21-OCI-297
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 43-year-old man who jumped from the roof of a residence earlier this month while Thunder Bay Police Service officers were present.
In the evening of September 7, 2021, Thunder Bay Police Service officers were dispatched to a domestic disturbance call at a residence in the area of Simpson Street and Heron Street. Upon being alerted to the arrival of the police, an individual in the residence made his way to an upper floor porch. An officer directed the man to surrender himself, but instead, the man climbed a ladder onto the roof and then jumped to the ground below. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured leg.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of body warn camera footage that captured the incident, Director Martino determined there was no physical contact between any officer and the man. As there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned in connection with this matter, 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES