News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into OPP Officers’ Arrest of Woman in Elliot Lake
Case Number: 22-PCI-170
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 30-year-old woman by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in Elliot Lake earlier this month.
On July 2nd and 3rd, 2022, the woman had two alcohol-induced run-ins with the OPP in Elliott Lake. A level of force was used on each occasion by the police to take her into custody. Following her release from an OPP detachment on July 3, 2022, the woman attended hospital and was diagnosed with a possible fracture of the right wrist. Another exam confirmed that she didn’t suffer any broken bones.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino found the investigation should be discontinued at this time. With no ‘serious injury’ suffered within the terms of the SIU’s mandate, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the case and 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