News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Barrie Officer After Woman Fractures Skull
Case Number: 23-OCI-102
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Barrie Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured skull suffered by a 32-year-old woman. On April 4, 2023, the officer attempted to arrest the woman under the Mental Health Act. The woman threatened officers with a drill and was struck by a conducted energy weapon discharge. She fell and suffered a serious injury.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=2516
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