News Release
SIU Closes Investigation in Windsor; Injuries not Caused by Police
Case Number: 17-OCI-229
The Acting Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has discontinued an investigation into an incident that occurred in Windsor in August of 2017.
A preliminary investigation found the following:
- In the early morning hours of Friday, August 25, 2017, a 27-year-old man was in the area of Drouillard Road and Milloy Street when he was assaulted by a group of individuals. When the man ran into a variety store, the group of individuals followed and the attack continued.
- Windsor Police Service (WPS) officers arrived and found the man injured.
- He was transported to hospital for treatment of injuries.
Acting Director Martino said, “The injuries to the man occurred prior to the arrival of members of the WPS. As such, this incident does not fall within the mandate of the SIU and therefore this investigation has been discontinued.”
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