News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Injury Sustained by Man in Cochrane Court House Cell
Case Number: 17-PCI-223
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the injury sustained by a 23-year-old man while inside a cell at the Cochrane court house. The incident occurred last month.
A preliminary investigation found the following:
- On Sunday, August 20, 2017, the man was arrested in Smooth Rock Falls in relation to outstanding criminal charges.
- The following day, the man was transported to the Cochrane court house. While waiting to appear in front of a judge, he was placed in a cell.
- At approximately 11 a.m., the man punched the wall in the cell. He was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a hand injury.
Director Tony Loparco said, “I have terminated the investigation into this incident as the man’s injury was as a result of his own actions, and was not as a result of his interaction with any police officer.”
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