News Release
SIU Lays Assault Charge Against Police Officer in Relation to Guelph Arrest
Case Number: 19-OCI-255
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe a Guelph Police Service (GPS) officer committed a criminal offence in relation to the arrest of an 18-year-old male in October of 2019. As a result, Director Martino has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation determined that shortly after midnight on October 12, 2019, several GPS officers attended a residence on Arkell Road where a party was taking place. One of the officers became involved in an interaction with the 18-year-old complainant. When the complainant went to hospital two days later, he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, GPS Constable Jeremy Mitchell has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 36 Wyndham Street South in Guelph on February 14, 2020.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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