News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Broken Hand in Cobourg
Case Number: 24-OCI-023
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Cobourg Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a 22-year-old man who was diagnosed with fractures to his right hand following his arrest. On January 17, 2024, police were called to the area of King and Division Streets for a report that the man punched a vehicle with a woman in it and assaulted two men who intervened to assist the woman. The officer handcuffed the man and put him into the cruiser. Director Martino found video footage from the parking lot and other evidence made clear that the fractures were the likely result of the man punching the vehicle or engaging in fisticuffs prior to police arrival.
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