News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Fractured Knee in Orillia Arrest
Case Number: 25-PCI-001
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured right knee suffered by a 60-year-old man. On December 31, 2024, officers were called to a residence in the area of Colborne Street and West Street South in Orillia for a report that the man threatened a woman with a knife.
Officers encountered the man and forced him to the floor. There was a struggle before the officers handcuffed the man. The man was taken to the detachment, then the hospital where he was diagnosed with the serious injury.
While Director Joseph Martino accepted that the man’s injury was incurred in the altercation that marked his arrest, there was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges.
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 (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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES