News Release
As no Serious Injury was Suffered, SIU Terminates Windsor Investigation
Case Number: 23-OCI-223
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an incident that occurred several years ago. the matter came to the SIU’s attention on June 12, 2023, when a 42-year-old woman reported to the SIU that she had been seriously injured in the course of her apprehension by Windsor Police Service officers in November of 2015. The SIU initiated an investigation.
While officers did attend the woman’s home on November 15, 2015, their conduct was limited to assisting paramedics, who had been called to the home by the woman’s mother. There was no indication of any force having been brought to bear. As for the broken left wrist the woman alleged she suffered, the medical records from the time failed to make mention of any such injury.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, SIU Director Joseph Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, it was apparent that the woman did not, in fact, suffer a serious injury at the hands of the police. As such, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction in this case. The file has been closed.
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