News Release

No Charges to Issue in Relation to Arrest of Man in Niagara Falls

Case Number: 19-OCI-048   

Mississauga, ON (22 April, 2020) ---
On March 3, 2019, a 54-year-old man suffered a fractured nose which was diagnosed following his arrest by Niagara Regional Police Service officers.  The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any of the involved officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php. 

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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