News Release
SIU Terminates Hamilton Investigation
Case Number: 22-OCI-101
Other News Releases Related to Case 22-OCI-101
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the April arrest of a 34-year-old man in Hamilton.
In the morning of April 5, 2022, the Hamilton Police Service (HPS) received reports of reckless driving by an individual operating a Volkswagen. Police learned that the man was driving dangerously at a high rate of speed and had struck a pedestrian [who later succumbed to his injuries in hospital] in the area of Markland Street and Park Avenue South. HPS officers located the vehicle and attempted to stop it. In the course of doing so, the man struck several cruisers. Officers eventually stopped the vehicle on Elmwood Avenue and arrested the man. In the course of the arrest, force was used. The man was subsequently assessed at hospital where it was determined he had not suffered any serious injury.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino determined that the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to continue the investigation as the man did not sustain any serious injury within the mandate of the SIU. 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES