News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Serious Injury During Arrest in Kingston
Case Number: 25-OCI-067
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe three Kingston Police officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury suffered by a 36-year-old man. On February 17, 2025, a family member of the man called alleging that he took her vehicle without permission at a residence in the area of Bayridge Drive and Henderson Boulevard in Kingston.
During his arrets for theft, the man flailed his arms and feet, struck out at the officers, and attempted to disarm them of their weapons. The officers punched the man’s head and torso multiple times, and used their conducted energy weapons (CEWs). Additional officers arrived, and an officer delivered several hand strikes before officers were able to handcuff the man. The man was taken to hospital and eventually diagnosed with a brain bleed.
Director Joseph Martino found the evidence did not reasonably establish that the force used was excessive. While he acknowledged significant force was used by the officers – upwards of ten punches and multiple CEW deployments, he found the force was proportionate to the nature and extent of the man’s resistance.
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