News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Hospitalization in London
Case Number: 20-OCI-210
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the hospitalization of a 51-year-old man while he was in the custody of the London Police Service last month.
On August 23, 2020, officers responded to the Dundas Street area for reports of a suspicious vehicle. A short time later, the man was arrested for drug impaired driving. While in police custody in the sally port, the man went into medical distress and was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of a police station video recording, Director Martino was satisfied that the SIU investigation should be discontinued at this time. There was no suggestion of any criminality on the part of police and little basis for jurisdiction.
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