News Release

SIU Discontinues Investigation into Woman’s Fall While Fleeing Greater Sudbury Police

Case Number: 23-OCI-358   

Mississauga, ON (2 January, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into fractures suffered by a 24-year-old woman after she attempted to escape police officers in Sudbury last August.

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on August 31, 2023, Greater Sudbury Police Service officers went to an apartment on Antwerp Avenue following a call about a domestic disturbance. Police knocked on the door and the woman went to the bedroom window, jumping two stories to the ground below. She was eventually located by police and arrested. She reportedly suffered a fractured spine and broken left ankle. On this record, Director Martino found it evident that police officers did nothing to contribute to the woman’s injuries that could attract criminal liability.

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