News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Fall in Wasaga Beach
Case Number: 22-PCI-194
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries suffered by a 66-year-old man in August.
On August 4, 2022, Ontario Provincial Police officers were dispatched to a residence for a potential domestic disturbance. Fearful that the people at the door were his girlfriend and her new boyfriend, the man exited through a second-storey window at the back of the house. The man fell onto the ground below and fractured his hips.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. Director Martino found it plain and obvious that the police did nothing to cause or contribute to the man’s injuries, leaving patently nothing to investigate. 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