News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Fractures During Thorold Arrest
Case Number: 24-OCI-135
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Niagara Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the broken clavicle and left rib suffered during the arrest of a 32-year-old woman. The injury came to the attention of the police service on March 25, 2024, and the service notified the SIU of the matter on that same date.
The SIU found on August 6, 2023, officers were sent to a home in Thorold for a domestic disturbance. The officer determined the woman was trespassing and told the woman she had to leave. While standing in the front foyer, the woman fell and was injured. She was escorted outside to the officer’s cruiser and the officer drove her to a friend’s home.
The next day, she attended hospital and was diagnosed with serious injuries.
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