News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Windsor Arrest of Woman
Case Number: 23-OCI-004
In the evening of January 2, 2023, an off-duty Windsor Police Service officer observed a woman spraying a message on the doors of a church located at Banwell Road and McHugh Street / McNorton Street. The officer contacted the police service, and then proceeded to follow the woman when she began to walk away. Instead of stopping when ordered to do so, the woman picked up her pace. The officer caught up to her and in interaction ensued. The officer kept her there until other officers arrived. The following day, the 42-year-old woman went to hospital and was eventually diagnosed with a fractured right hip. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the woman’s arrest and injury. There was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, and the file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES