News Release
Man’s Fractured Finger a Result of Punching Cell Door Window; SIU Discontinues Moosonee Investigation
Case Number: 21-PCI-334
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 44-year-old man last month while he was lodged in an Ontario Provincial (OPP) cell in Moosonee.
On October 3, 2021, the man was taken into custody in Moosonee by OPP officers for outstanding arrest warrants. The arrest was without incident. The man was taken to the OPP’s Moosonee Detachment and lodged in a cell. Minutes after entering the cell, the man punched the upper glass window of the cell door. At hospital, he was diagnosed with a fracture to the small finger of his right hand.
Director Martino concluded that there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned in connection with the man’s injury – it was plain and obvious that the man was alone responsible. 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES