News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Interactions that Occurred Between Man and Police in Ottawa
Case Number: 21-OCI-360
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into two interactions that took place between Ottawa Police Service officers and a 36-year-old man on October 24, 2021.
In the morning hours of this date, the man had entered the foyer of The Rockcliffe Retirement Residence. He appeared to be in mental distress. In addition, the back of his right hand was swollen. Responding officers arrested and subsequently released the man. Later that day, officers arrested the man a second time in relation to a disturbance he was creating at the intersection of Sussex Drive and Alexander Bridge. Following this arrest, the man was taken to hospital for examination and then released into police custody.
Numerous efforts were made by SIU investigators to locate the man to speak with him. Investigators attended the location where he was staying and spoke with multiple individuals who knew the man. These attempts were to no avail.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included security camera video footage that captured parts of the events in question, the evidence suggested that the man’s right hand was injured prior to his involvement with the police. As such, Director Martino concluded that there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned. 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