News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest and Serious Injuries in London
Case Number: 23-OCI-456
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a London Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 32-year-old man during his arrest.
On November 2, 2023, officers sought to arrest the man, in the area of 312 Commissioners Road West, as he fit the description of a break and enter suspect described in a 911 call and was located near the scene. The man resisted arrest and attempted to escape. An officer punched the man and another officer tossed him to the ground. More punches and knee strikes followed during a struggle. Director Martino found the use of force justified as there was cause to be concerned that the man might be attempting to access a knife in his possession.
Director Martino accepted that the man’s injuries were incurred in the altercation that marked his arrest, but found that they were not attributable to any unlawful conduct by the involved officers.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES