News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Broken Leg Suffered by Man During Arrest in Kingston
Case Number: 21-OCI-218
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the leg fractures suffered by a 35-year-old man in the course of his arrest last month in Kingston.
On July 14, 2021, Kingston Police burst through the door of an apartment on Bagot Street, acting on a warrant to search the premises. The man, a guest in the apartment at the time, feared he was about to be robbed and jumped off the second-floor balcony. As a result, he fractured his right leg.
Director Martino concluded that there was patently nothing to investigation as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned in connection with the man’s serious injuries. On the basis of the evidence, it was apparent that the man was solely responsible for his injuries, and as such the 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES