News Release
SIU Reopens G20 Investigation
Case Number: 10-OCI-116
Other News Releases Related to Case 10-OCI-116
SIU Appeals to Public for Information in Reopened G20 Investigation
On June 26, 2010, 29-year-old Dorian Barton was at the intersection of University Avenue and College Street at a demonstration. There was a line of mounted police officers on his left and anti-riot officers standing in front of the demonstrators. He turned around to take pictures of the mounted police officers with his cellular telephone unaware that anti-riot officers were marching toward the crowd. Mr. Barton was taken to the ground by a male anti-riot officer and arrested, sustaining a fracture to his right arm in the process. He was taken to Toronto East General Hospital for treatment.
The SIU conducted an investigation, but Mr. Barton could not identify the officers involved in his arrest or fully explain how the injury occurred, nor was the remainder of the evidence capable of resolving these questions. As a result, Director Scott said, "It is unclear how the complainant received his injury or who caused them. Accordingly, I cannot form reasonable grounds that a criminal offence occurred in the circumstances of this case."
On January 12, 2011, the SIU received a number of photographs depicting officers in interaction with Mr. Barton during the demonstrations. As result of this materially new information, Director Scott has reopened the 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