News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Woman’s Serious Injury During Arrest in Kingston
Case Number: 23-OCI-280
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Kingston Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the arrest and broken shoulder suffered by a 25-year-old woman in July.
On July 21, 2023, officers were dispatched to a restaurant on King Street East after the woman reportedly assaulted a staff member and was throwing items at customers. While an officer escorted the woman to the cruiser, the woman headbutted the officer in the face. The officer grounded the woman. She was complained of pain her right shoulder while in her cell and was taken to hospital where she was diagnosed with the injury.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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