News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into OPP Officer’s Arrest of Man in Clarence-Rockland
Case Number: 22-PCI-031
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with facial fractures suffered by a 64-year-old man during his arrest in Clarence-Rockland in January. The SIU launched an investigation after the OPP notified the Unit on February 3, 2022.
On January 9, 2022, officers responded after the man damaged property and threatened staff at a residential health facility. Officers arrested the man under the Mental Health Act and for mischief. The man resisted arrest and attempted to punch one of the officers. The subject official punched the man twice in the face and took the man to the floor where he landed face first.
Director Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe that the subject official comported himself unlawfully in his dealings with the man. The file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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