News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Arrest and Injury in Hamilton
Case Number: 23-OCI-310
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Hamilton Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the arrest and serious injury suffered by a 56-year-old woman.
On August 5, 2023, an officer attempted to stop the woman’s vehicle after police received a 911 call about an impaired driver in the area of Centennial Parkway North and Arrowsmith Drive. The officer pursued the woman, after she didn’t pull over, to arrest her for failure to stop for police.
The officer grabbed the woman’s left arm and removed her from the vehicle, pushed her against the vehicle, and secured her in handcuffs. Director Martino said the officer may have fractured her clavicle, but he was unable to reasonably conclude that excessive force was used.
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