News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Clavicle Fracture After Arrest in Ottawa
Case Number: 24-OCI-280
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 46-year-old man. On July 1, 2024, police were called to a home in the area of North River Road and Queen Mary Street after a man wandered inside. Occupants of the home forced him out when he would not leave. He fell down the stairs and fled. Officers chased the man as he attempted to scale a fence. An officer forced him down to the ground and handcuffed him. He was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured clavicle bone.
Director Joseph Martino found it unclear when precisely the man suffered the injury. There was evidence he fell before his arrest and was also taken down by an officer. Regardless, he found no basis for proceeding with criminal charges as the force used during the man’s arrest was necessary, proportionate and legally justified.
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