News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Fracture During OPP Arrest in Pikangikum
Case Number: 25-PCI-068
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured right clavicle suffered by a 22-year-old man. On February 19, 2025, the man was arrested for being at a residence with his girlfriend, breaching a term of a release order.
While being escorted from the cruiser into the detachment, the man broke free of officers and fled. An officer ran after him and grabbed him, taking him to the ground. Officers called EMS and took him to hospital where he was diagnosed with the serious injury.
Director Joseph Martino concluded a takedown made sense in the circumstances as it immediately put an end to the complainant’s escape effort while positioning the officers to better manage any additional resistance they could have reasonably expected from a fleeing detainee.
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