News Release
Investigation Completed into Man’s Broken Nose During Arrest in St. Thomas
Case Number: 23-OCI-395
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a St. Thomas Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a 51-year-old man who was seriously injured during his arrest.
On September 26, 2023, officers arrested the man on Forest Avenue after he drove a vehicle while his licence was suspended. The man threatened both officers with violence if they laid hands on him. He also pushed each officer in the chest and resisted while he was being forced to the ground. The officers delivered several knee strikes and punches during the struggle. The man was arrested and taken to hospital.
Director Martino accepted that the man’s nose was broken during his arrest, but did not accept that the injury was attributable to any unlawful conduct by the officer.
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