News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation Into Incident During Fanshawe College Orientation Week in London
Case Number: 08-OCI-184
Other News Releases Related to Case 08-OCI-184
"The first-year student was intoxicated in a public place with a can of beer in his hand when officers exercised their legal authority under the Liquor Licence Act to arrest the teenager because he refused to identify himself," concluded SIU Director Ian Scott. "He fought with both officers, who meted out a series of punches and knee strikes in order to subdue and take him into custody."
During the early morning hours of September 6, 2008, officers of the London Police Service were on patrol in response to open drinking and other alcohol-related concerns near 190 Fleming Drive, an off-campus, privately owned student housing complex near Fanshawe College. The 18-year-old student sustained a fractured orbital bone under his left eye as a result of the struggle with police, who were attempting to arrest him. Uniformed officers arrived to assist in handcuffing the teenager and to control the crowd that had gathered around the officers.
Mr. Scott noted: "Given the nature of this volatile and dynamic situation, the force used by the subject officers was not excessive under the circumstances."
During its investigation, the SIU interviewed five police officers and 15 civilian witnesses, the majority of whom were students, and reviewed the London Police Service's use-of-force policy, communications tapes and incident reports. SIU investigators also reviewed police and private security video footage of the scene. The SIU wishes to acknowledge the assistance of A-Channel News in London for providing raw footage of the overall Orientation Week activity.
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