News Release
Man Sustained Fractured Nose During Altercation Days Prior to Arrest by Police; SIU Terminates Ottawa Investigation
Case Number: 23-OCI-356
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the August arrest of a man in Ottawa.
In the evening of August 30, 2023, following several reports of violent and erratic behaviour being exhibited by a man in the area of Elgin and Lisgar Streets, Ottawa Police Service officers attended the scene and took the man into custody. He was transported to the police station and subsequently taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured nose.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. The fracture the man suffered was determined to be the same one he had suffered in a non-police-related altercation about a week prior. On this record, the man not having suffered a ‘serious injury’ at the hands of the police, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the incident. As such, 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES