News Release
Woman’s Injury Pre-existed Arrest by OPP; SIU Terminates Brantford Investigation
Case Number: 23-PCI-519
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 40-year-old woman in December in Brantford.
In the afternoon of December 18, 2023, the woman was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police officers for breaching the terms of a release order. She was transported to the detachment and subsequently transported via ambulance to hospital for symptoms of fentanyl withdrawal. While at hospital, the woman was diagnosed with a broken left arm.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. It appears that the woman’s injury pre-existed her arrest. On this record, it would appear the woman’s arrest did not give rise to a ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s statutory mandate. 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