News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man Seriously Injured in Thunder Bay Arrest
Case Number: 24-OCI-236
Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OCI-236
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe two Thunder Bay Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the shoulder injury suffered by a 45-year-old man. On June 4, 2024, officers located the man in the area of Cumberland Street South; he was wanted on an arrest warrant.
The man fled and officers chased him on foot. The man was taken to the ground, and he struggled against officers’ efforts to handcuff him. Officers punched and kicked the man before he was handcuffed. He was later taken to hospital for treatment of a separated shoulder.
Director Martino found no evidence the officers acted in excess, and he found the takedown was a reasonable tactic as the man was known to carry firearms. He noted no further strikes were delivered after the man was handcuffed.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES