News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Skull Fractured During Arrest by Thunder Bay Officers in 2023
Case Number: 23-OCI-220
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 30-year-old man who fled police. On June 10, 2023, the man was being arrested for impaired driving when he fled on foot. An officer chased after him and took him down to the ground. In the process, the officer’s flashlight struck the man’s head.
It was alleged this action was intentional; however, the officer said it was inadvertent. Body worn camera footage was reviewed in this case, but it was choppy given the movement. Director Martino was not satisfied that the evidence to demonstrate this would warrant being put to the test by a court.
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