News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Owen Sound Arrest
Case Number: 22-OCI-318
Shortly after 4 a.m. on December 16, 2022, an Owen Sound Police Service officer observed a 23-year-old man in the downtown area who was in violation of a release order curfew condition. When the officer advised the man that he was under arrest, the man ignored the officer and walked away. A struggle ensud, and the officer punched the man two to three times in the face. With the assistance of another officer arriving at the scene, and after some further struggle, the man was eventually handcuffed. He was transported to the police station and then to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured right orbital bone. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury. As there was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, the file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES