News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Broken Right Knee During Arrest in Ottawa

Case Number: 26-OCI-010   

Mississauga, ON (4 May, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ottawa Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured right knee suffered by a 37-year-old man during his arrest. On January 8, 2026, officers were investigating an alcohol theft. While the officer was examining the bottles within a backpack at the entrance of a Walmart on Ogilvie Road, a man took one of the bottles claiming it was his before the officer took the bottle back. The man swiped the officer’s hand away and the officer moved to arrest the man for obstructing a peace officer. During the arrest, the officer took the man to the floor and handcuffed him.

Director Martino found the takedown made sense as it would position the officer to better deal with the man’s aggression.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): 

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

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