News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Arrest, Concussion in Kitchener
Case Number: 23-OCI-069
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe two Waterloo Regional Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with a concussion suffered by a 32-year-old woman. On February 26, 2023, the woman was arrested for intoxication after having been ejected from Elements nightclub on King Street West in Kitchener. The woman was taken to the police station and while en route to the cell, the woman kicked a special constable. The two officers reacted by pushing the woman against the wall. Following her release from custody, the woman saw a doctor on March 1 who diagnosed her with a mild concussion.
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