News Release

SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Collapsed Lung After St. Catharines Arrest

Case Number: 23-OCI-387   

Mississauga, ON (11 January, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a man hospitalized with a collapsed lung following his arrest by Niagara Regional Police Service officers last September in St. Catharines.

Based on preliminary inquiries, in the afternoon of September 18, 2023, officers were called a residence on Glenridge Avenue after a complaint that the man had threatened a male with a knife. The man fled into a nearby ravine towards the Twelve Mile Creek. He was eventually caught by officers and arrested. Director Martino found the evidence clear that the man’s injury was caused when he fell down the slope prior to being captured by police. 

On this record, Director Martino was satisfied there was patently nothing to investigate as far as potential criminal liability of any officer. 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