News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Man’s Hospitalization After Arrest in Milton
Case Number: 22-OCI-090
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest in March of a 20-year-old man who was taken to hospital when he lapsed into unconsciousness while in Halton Regional Police Service custody.
On March 27, 2022, officers were called to a residence on Commercial Street in Milton. Several individuals, including the man, were fighting out front. After the man was arrested, he fell into medical distress. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with an alcohol overdose.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of the man’s medical records, he did not suffer any serious injury within the SIU’s mandate. As the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate, Director Martino closed the file.
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