News Release
Investigation into Man’s Broken Ribs During Arrest by North Bay Officer Completed
Case Number: 23-OCI-067
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a North Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the broken rib suffered by a 33-year-old man during his arrest. On March 2, 2023, the man was arrested on outstanding warrants. While the officer attempted to handcuff him, the man resisted and the officer forced him to the ground and used a knee to keep him on the ground while waiting for another officer to arrive.
While Director Martino accepted that the man sustained his fracture in the altercation with the officer, there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer comported himself other than within the limits of the criminal law throughout their engagement.
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