News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Serious Injuries Suffered During London Arrest
Case Number: 24-OCI-358
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a London Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 39-year-old man. On August 26, 2024, 911 calls were made about a man believed to be injuring a dog in the backyard of a home in the area of Dundas and Saskatoon Streets. The man ignored officers’ commands to drop what he was holding and get on the ground, and he tried to walk away. An officer kicked him and he tried to walk away, and square up to fight. An officer fired his conducted energy weapon and the man fell, striking his head on the sidewalk. Another officer struck him in the head. The man continued to resist and two officers punched the man. He was handcuffed.
The man was transported to hospital where he was admitted for psychiatric examination and diagnosed with a facial fracture.
Director Joseph Martino concluded the force used by the officers in aid of the man’s arrest was lawful. Given the information that the man abused a dog with an object, and his erratic behaviour on being confronted by police, the officers had cause to be concerned that the man might have a weapon and would physically resist their efforts.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES