News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Incident at Waterloo Regional Courthouse
Case Number: 25-OCI-354
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 40-year-old man in August in Kitchener.
The man was arrested in the morning of August 27, 2025, on the sidewalk outside the Waterloo Regional Courthouse following a report of a man fitting his description stealing ice cream from a business earlier that day, and discovery of an outstanding unendorsed bench warrant. The man was transported to Waterloo Regional Police Service and held for a bail hearing. While in cells at the Waterloo Regional Courthouse, the man fell asleep while seated on the cell bench with his feet up, and subsequently fell from the bench striking his head on the cell floor. The man did not mention the fall to the special constables present at the time, nor did he request medical assistance following the incident. Later at hospital, he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, and video footage that captured the incident, Deputy Director O’Brien was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. The cell area of the courthouse was staffed by special constables. As per legislation, the SIU does not have jurisdiction over court security special constables. Being apparent that no police officer was responsible for the man’s injury, the file has been closed.
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