News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest and Injuries at South Huron Hospital
Case Number: 23-PCI-380
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe three Ontario Provincial Police officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the arrest of a 41-year-old man in Huron County last September.
On September 15, 2023, the man was at the emergency department in hospital. He was taken there in an ambulance after taking cocaine. Hospital staff called police after the man climbed into the ceiling above the bathroom and was believed to be destroying property. He attempted to start a fire and set off the sprinkler system shutting down the emergency department. After hours’ long negotiations failed to get the man to lower himself, Emergency Response Team officers attempted to remove him. An officer punched the man’s hands and arms. He was forced from a duct he was straddling and fell on to the floor below. Following his arrest, the man was diagnosed with three fractured ribs.
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