News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest and Injuries in Petrolia
Case Number: 22-PCI-315
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe two Ontario Provincial Police officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the arrest and serious injuries suffered by a 49-year-old man in Petrolia. On December 10, 2022, officers attempted to arrest the man after he was found to be in breach of a court order. The man resisted arrest and tried to flee. An officer tackled the man, and officers punched and kicked him before he was handcuffed and taken to hospital.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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