News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman Injured in Fall While Evading Arrest in Lindsay

Case Number: 24-OCI-240   

Mississauga, ON (4 October, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Kawartha Lakes Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries of a 45-year-old woman from a fall in Lindsay. On June 6, 2024, officers went to an apartment near William Street North to arrest the woman on several outstanding warrants. 

When officers were allowed entry and looked over the balcony, they saw her on the ground below. Officers rushed to the woman and provided first aid. Paramedics attended and brought her to the hospital where she was treated for a fractured collarbone and broken ribs.

Director Martino concluded the evidence indicated the woman, in a desperate attempt to evade arrest, attempted to escape by either scaling down the balconies, losing her footing and falling, or jumping from the balcony to the ground.
 
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