News Release

The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into reported injuries suffered by a 42-year-old man during his arrest by West Grey Police Service (WGPS) officers. On January 6, 2026, the SIU launched an investigation following a complaint submitted by the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency.

The man was arrested in the community of Durham on August 26, 2025, following a call to police from his wife reporting ongoing harassment by him. During his arrest, the man attempted to flee on foot. Police pursued him and apprehended him shortly thereafter. The man resisted police and was uncooperative. Officers used physical control techniques and a conducted energy weapon to handcuff him. At the police station, the man complained of pain and was transported to the hospital where he was cleared of serious injury. After his release from custody, the man continued to experience pain and attended hospital on September 4, 2025, where another X-ray was done, and again did not identify any injuries. On September 8, 2025, the man went to hospital where he underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with left-side rib fractures. Following an exam and review by a forensic pathologist of the CT scan dated September 8, 2025, it was found to be highly unlikely that the multiple displaced rib fractures identified on the CT scan were present but not visualized on the earlier X-ray imaging. Further, the CT scan showed no evidence of a healing response, which would be expected if the fractures occurred on August 26, 2025, as alleged. On this record, it was apparent no WGPS officer was responsible for the man’s injury. Accordingly, there being nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer, the file has been closed.