News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Serious Injuries Reportedly Suffered by Man in Course of Arrest in Barrie
Case Number: 21-OCI-391
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a reported concussion and broken teeth suffered by a 19-year-old man in the course of his arrest by Barrie Police Service officers last August. The man filed a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, which then advised the Barrie Police Service. Due to the nature of the incident, the police service notified the SIU of the incident on November 15, 2021.
On August 8, 2021, officers arrested the man in the area of Bayfield Street and Dunlop Street West. He was, later released and attended hospital. The man attended hospital again on August 10, 2021.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of medical records, the man was found to not have been diagnosed with a concussion. Additionally, fractured teeth are not the sort of injury that invokes the SIU’s mandate. On this record, Director Martino concluded that it did not appear the man suffered a serious injury within the terms of the Unit’s statutory jurisdiction. 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES