News Release
SIU Terminates Owen Sound Investigation
Case Number: 22-OCI-103
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest last month of a 57-year-old woman in Owen Sound.
On April 3, 2022, the woman was arrested by Owen Sound Police Service officers on the strength of an outstanding warrant. The following day, after her release from custody, the woman told a police officer she suffered a broken left leg while she had been in police custody.
A review of the woman’s medical records established that she did not, in fact, sustain any fractures. As the woman did not suffer a ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s mandate, Director Martino was satisfied that the SIU was without jurisdiction in this matter. 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