News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Elderly Man's Broken Finger in Sault Ste. Marie
Case Number: 24-OCI-020
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Sault Ste. Marie officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 78-year-old man. On January 5, 2024, officers were called to the man’s residence in the area of Wellington Street West and North Street, to check on his wellbeing as he was exhibiting violent behaviour. During the visit, the man physically engaged with an officer and was taken to the ground by officers. He was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed with a broken left finger while in hospital.
Director Martino accepted that the man’s injury was incurred during his interaction with the officers, but he was not satisfied on reasonable grounds that it was attributable to any unlawful police conduct.
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