News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Injury While Fleeing OPP Officer in Pembroke
Case Number: 22-PCI-235
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a broken rib suffered by a 46-year-old man while he fled from an Ontario Provincial Police officer in September.
On September 13, 2022, the man, who was wanted on several arrest warrants, fled on foot upon seeing an officer in the area of Willard Street. For more than an hour, the man scaled fences, traversed a river, went up and down embankments and broke into at least two homes. The man was eventually apprehended and taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken rib.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. It was patently clear at this time that the police did nothing to cause or contribute to the man’s injury that could conceivably attract criminal sanction. 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