News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Hamilton Case

Case Number: 24-OCI-169   

Mississauga, ON (14 August, 2024) ---
On March 26, 2024, Hamilton Police Service (HPS) officers were dispatched to Juravinski Hospital to assist in transporting a 43-year-old man to St. Joseph’s Hospital. The police service later received information in which it was alleged that the man had been seriously injured that day while in the custody of HPS officers. The HPS then notified the SIU, which invoked its mandate. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s reported injuries.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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