News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation in Chatsworth
Case Number: 17-PCI-304
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has terminated an investigation into the injury sustained by a 52-year-old man last month in Chatsworth.
At approximately 9 p.m. on Sunday October 22, 2017, Chatsworth Ontario Provincial Police officers attended a residence after a call for a neighbor dispute. The officers arrested a man, and he was subsequently transported to the police station and lodged. The following morning, he complained of a sore hand and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
Director Loparco said, “I have terminated the investigation into this incident as the evidence establishes – and the man acknowledges – that the injury did not occur while the man was in police custody.”
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