News Release
Officer Did Nothing to Cause or Contribute to Man’s Fall; SIU Discontinues Oakville Investigation
Case Number: 24-OCI-065
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 32-year-old man in February by a Peel Regional Police (PRP) officer.
In the evening of February 12, 2024, the man was arrested by a PRP officer in Oakville for stunt driving on Highway 407. The man was handcuffed at the scene by the officer and transported to a Halton Regional Police Service station where the handcuffs were removed and the man was released. The man later attended hospital when he felt numbness in his right hand.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records which indicated the man did not suffer any fracture, or serious injury of any kind, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, there being no ‘serious injury’ within the statutory mandate of the SIU, the SIU was without jurisdiction to investigate. 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES