News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Broken Hand from Punching Cell in Mississauga
Case Number: 23-OCI-101
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the broken right hand suffered by a 33-year-old man in April.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of video footage, on April 2, 2023, the man surrendered to police at 11 Division in Mississauga after his father had withdrawn his bail surety. Upset at learning he would remain in police custody for a period, the man repeatedly punched and kicked at fixtures in his cell, breaking his hand in the process. The man conceded that he alone was responsible for his injury. On this record, this left patently nothing to investigate as far as potential criminal liability of any police officer in relation to the man’s injury.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES