News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Man’s Broken Right Hand After Punching Cell Window in Nipissing District
Case Number: 24-PCI-291
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury of a 44-year-old man while he was detained in a police cell at the Ontario Provincial Police’s West Nipissing Detachment.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on July 5, 2024, the man was arrested at his home in Cache Bay in connection with a domestic disturbance. Officers took the man to the detachment where he was lodged in a cell. A short time later, the man punched a window of the cell and fractured his right hand. On this record, it was apparent that the man alone was responsible for his injury and left nothing to investigate as far as potential criminal liability of any police officer.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES