News Release
No Criminal Wrongdoing Found in Relation to Sault Ste. Marie Arrest
Case Number: 20-OCI-335
Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OCI-335
On December 3, 2020, a 38-year-old man was arrested by Sault Ste. Marie Police Service officers and subsequently diagnosed with serious injuries at hospital. Because there was some prospect that the Complainant’s injuries were incurred in the course of his arrest, the SIU was notified of the incident and opened a file. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe an arresting officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injuries.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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