News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest, Broken Nose in Ottawa
Case Number: 25-OCI-024
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ottawa Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured nose suffered by a 32-year-old man. On January 21, 2025, police were called about the man, who was in possession of a knife and broke into a woman’s residence near Brant Street and McArthur Avenue in Ottawa.
Upon hearing the man and woman yelling in a bedroom, the officer kicked open the door. The man was removed and forced to the floor in the hallway and struck once or twice in the face. He was handcuffed.
Director Joseph Martino was satisfied that the evidence did not establish reasonable grounds to believe that the man was subjected to unlawful force.
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