News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Broken Nose During Pembroke Arrest
Case Number: 25-PCI-171
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the broken nose suffered by a 64-year-old man in Pembroke. On April 29, 2025, officers with the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment arrested the man for breach of the peace. He had been behaved erratically, entering onto the roadway in traffic to hitchhike a ride and harassing residents on Mary Street.
Director Joseph Martino was satisfied that the force used by the officers -- a takedown possibly assisted by a trip -- was legally justified. The man made it clear he would not submit peacefully to arrest, tensing his arms and attempting to break free of the officers’ hold. At the same time, the officers were concerned to bring the man under control quickly given their placement on a bridge and the man’s state of mind.
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