News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Injury Suffered by Man Fleeing from Officer in Timmins
Case Number: 23-OCI-052
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 41-year-old man while attempting to flee from a Timmins Police Service officer last month. On February 20, 2023, an officer attempted to apprehend the man at a coffee shop on McIntyre Road as there was a warrant for his arrest. The man rose to his feet and turned his back as if preparing to surrender his hands to be handcuffed. Before the officer could handcuff him, the man fled and slipped at the front door, breaking his right ankle. The officer followed and slipped, falling on top of the man. The man was arrested and taken to hospital.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of video footage that captured the incident in parts, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued as there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the officer involved. 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES