News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation in Thunder Bay
Case Number: 05-OCI-075
The SIU was told that on May 13, 2004, at approximately 6:00 p.m., TBPS officers were involved in a confrontation with a 27-year-old man. During the incident, the man suffered a laceration and damaged tendons to his wrist area.
Three SIU investigators were deployed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man's serious injuries. The investigation determined that police went to 1100 Memorial Avenue in response to a man's alleged assault on a security guard. Five officers surrounded the man, who was hiding in a garbage bin, and ordered him to come out. The man came out of the bin brandishing an exacto knife. The man was pepper sprayed by police with no effect. Police eventually arrested the man and took him to hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Based on the evidence gathered to date, the SIU confirmed the injuries were self-inflicted. Given the fact that the police played no part in the man's injuries, SIU Director James Cornish terminated the investigation.
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