News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Malton Arrest
Case Number: 23-OCI-286
In the evening of July 24, 2023, Peel Regional Police officers were dispatched to a residence in Malton after someone reported that an inebriated driver had struck a parked car. The officers arrived at the residence and spoke to the 42-year-old driver outside the house and informed him he was under arrest. The man produced a switchblade and then fled on foot while the officers gave chase. Another officer was driving in the area when he came across the man. The officer at some point fired his conducted energy weapon at the man twice, causing the man to fall to the ground and strike his head. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain bleed. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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