News Release

No Basis to Charge Officers in Relation to Arrest of Woman in London

Case Number: 23-OCI-432   

Mississauga, ON (16 February, 2024) ---
In the morning of October 23, 2023, two London Police Service officers were on patrol in a marked cruiser when they came across a woman who was the subject of an arrest warrant. The 34-year-old woman, who was on her bike at the time, was permitted to return her bike home. The officers followed behind. As the woman was accompanied to the officers’ cruiser parked out front the home, a physical altercation ensued between her and the officers. The woman was eventually handcuffed. She was transported to hospital after her arrest and diagnosed with a fractured left finger. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the woman’s arrest and injury.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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