News Release

News Release

Investigation into Man’s Fractured Shoulder During OPP Arrest in Hastings County Concluded

Case Number: 25-PCI-533   

Mississauga, ON (24 April, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured right shoulder suffered by a 40-year-old man during his arrest. On December 24, 2025, officers were dispatched to a residence in Deseronto for a disturbance involving the man and his partner.

An officer arrested the man, who was intoxicated, when he tried to re-enter the residence. The officer took the man to the ground, likely causing the man’s injury. The man resisted arrest on his feet. The man kicked his legs, and the officer struck the man’s face. Director Martino noted there were a series of elbows to the face with one or two that appeared to occur after the man was handcuffed to the front. Here, too, however, there was evidence the man was grabbing the officer’s hand, thrashing his legs and, whether advertently or not, spitting at the officer. On this record, Director Martino was satisfied the officer’s conduct fell within the latitude recognized in the law when it comes to officers actively engaged in hostile and volatile situations.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

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