News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Serious Injury Suffered During Arrest in Chatham
Case Number: 24-OCI-337
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe two Chatham-Kent Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 52-year-old man. On August 12, 2024, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence in the area of Wedgewood Avenue and Tweedsmuir Avenue West.
Director Joseph Martino found the officers were within their rights to arrest the man on grounds he assaulted a woman and that he was in violation of curfew. The man was found hiding in a closet and he sprayed officers with a beer. He refused to release his arms to be handcuffed. An officer took him down to the floor and knee strikes were delivered. An officer also delivered a knee strike while they were by the cruiser. Director Martino found the use of force reasonable in the circumstances. The man was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured rib.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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