News Release

SIU Closes File into Brockville Investigation

Case Number: 19-OCI-148   

Mississauga, ON (25 July, 2019) ---
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 31-year-old man last month by Brockville Police Service (BPS) officers.

At approximately 11:15 p.m. on June 24, 2019, BPS officers arrested the man in the area of Laurier Boulevard and Kensington Parkway. He was transported to the police station and lodged in a cell. He was released the following morning. Later that day, police became aware that the man had sustained a fractured finger.

Interim Director Martino said, “The man reportedly suffered a fractured finger injury in the course of his arrest by BPS officers on June 24, 2019. However, despite repeated overtures by the SIU seeking to speak with him about the incident, the man has not made himself available. In the circumstances, I am satisfied there is an insufficient basis on which to proceed with an investigation, and the file is closed.”

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

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