News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Windsor Incident
Case Number: 21-OCI-299
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OCI-299
SIU Investigating Serious Injury Suffered by Man During Windsor Police Interaction
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 41-year-old man earlier this month in Windsor.
On September 9, 2021, the man left his residence in Windsor and made his way on foot to a condominium complex on Wyandotte Street East. While in the foyer of the building, the man struck a window with a brick he was holding in his right hand, shattering the glass. As a result, the man sustained a cut to an artery in his right arm. Within moments, the man was handcuffed and taken into custody by Windsor Police Service officers, at least some of whom were present in and around the foyer just before the man broke the window. The man was transported to hospital for treatment.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of closed-circuit television footage that captured the incident, Director Martino determined that no officer caused or contributed to the man’s injury in a fashion that could attract criminal sanction. The man alone was responsible for his injury. Accordingly, the investigation was hereby 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES