News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation of Kenora Arrest
Case Number: 21-PCI-061
A 26-year-old male was arrested by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in Kenora on May 16, 2020, and subsequently diagnosed with a serious injury. One of the two arresting officers was identified as the Subject Official for purposes of the SIU investigation as he had punched the male in the course of the arrest.
The evidence gathered in the investigation did not support the laying of criminal charges against the Subject Official. In his report, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, commented, “I am not satisfied that the force used by the [Subject Official], namely, a punch to the Complainant’s face, was excessive. The officer had just been spat on by a belligerent individual and reacted, I am satisfied, to prevent any further assault on his person.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1390
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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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES