News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Injury in Oshawa Arrest
Case Number: 22-OCI-192
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the reported injury suffered by a 66-year-old man during his arrest by Durham Regional Police Service officers in Oshawa.
On July 31, 2022, officers arrested the man in the area of Simcoe and Richmond Street in Oshawa after he called police about a man threatening suicide. The man in distress was the caller. Officers took the man to hospital for psychiatric examination. There were suspicions the man may have suffered fractured ribs during the arrest.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of medical records, Director Martino found the investigation should be discontinued at this time as there was no evidence of fracture. In the circumstances, there being no ‘serious injury’ within the statutory mandate of the SIU, the SIU was without jurisdiction to investigate the incident. Accordingly, 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