News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Caledon Arrest of Man that Involved Use of Peel Police Dog
Case Number: 24-OCI-117
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 20-year-old man in February in Caledon.
On February 29, 2024, the man was involved in a police pursuit with an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) vehicle in Caledon. The man crashed his vehicle in a ditch in the area of Highway 10 and Beech Grove Side Road, after which he took off on foot and hid in a cornfield. With the aid of a police dog from Peel Regional Police, the man was located and arrested. He was taken to an OPP detachment and, from there, to hospital for examination of dog bite wounds. At hospital, he was diagnosed with small puncture wounds to the left elbow.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. The man had not suffered any nerve damage and had full range of motion. No stiches were necessary. On this record, it appeared that the man did not suffer a ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s mandate. As such, 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