SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Injury in Hamilton Arrest After Cruiser Window Smashed
Case Number:
26-OCI-290
Mississauga, ON (15 October, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Hamilton Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 44-year-old man.
On June 20, 2026, officers were dispatched to the area of 499 King Street East for reports a man had broken into a parked police cruiser and smashed a window. The man fled and was walking eastbound. An officer located the man and chased him, ordering him to go to the ground. When he didn’t comply, she forced him to the ground. The officer delivered several knee strikes and a second officer arrived, and delivered several strikes.
Director Martino found it reasonable as the man had just committed a brazen act of property damage against a police vehicle. He found the officer had cause to fear that the man represented a threat to public safety, including the officer’s safety, and she would want to neutralize that threat by placing the man in a position of disadvantage. In the circumstances, when the man failed to comply, the officer was entitled to force the issue by taking him to the ground. At around the same time, it seems the officer became aware that the man was possibly in possession of a knife. As it turns out, the “knife” the man was thought to be holding was actually a crowbar, a serious weapon in its own right and easily mistaken for a knife in the heat of the moment. On this record, he was unable to reasonably conclude that the officers’ strikes were unwarranted given the imperative at the time to immediately control the man to prevent his being able to bring a weapon to bear in the conflict. Once the man’s arms were secured and handcuffed behind the back, no further force was used.
The man was seen at hospital after his arrest and diagnosed with a fractured nose and possible concussion.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES
