News Release

News Release

SIU Terminates Investigation into Custody Injury in Windsor

Case Number: 10-OCI-229   

Mississauga (5 November, 2010) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has terminated its investigation into the injuries sustained by a Windsor man in late October. The Windsor Police Service (WPS) contacted the SIU on October 25, 2010 and reported that their officers had responded to a call on Windsor Avenue.  The officers later interacted with a 21-year-old man on Goyeau Street.  The WPS contacted the SIU.

The SIU assigned three investigators and one forensic investigator to this matter.  The investigators conducted witness interviews and gathered evidence.  Based on the statements of the independent civilian witnesses and the statement of the 21-year-old man, no evidence exists to indicate that any officer of the WPS contributed to or caused any injuries to that man.

As a result of the preliminary enquiries the Director of the SIU, Ian Scott, has terminated the investigation.

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