News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Woman’s Spinal Injury After Chatham Arrest

Case Number: 26-OCI-100   

Mississauga, ON (16 June, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Chatham-Kent Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the spinal injury suffered by a 38-year-old woman during her arrest. On August 24, 2025, the woman called police to a residence at Keil Drive South and Richmond Street for an assault. The woman was arrested for obstruction of justice after she made contact with an officer. An officer took hold of the woman’s left arm and walked her to the cruiser. She was released at the scene and later was diagnosed with disc excursion, requiring surgery.

Director Martino noted it was alleged that the officer manhandled the woman during her arrest and subsequent walk to his vehicle. The in-car-camera footage, however, belied that claim. While the officer perhaps compelled the woman forward a little quicker than she would have liked given a pre-existing back condition, the footage fell well short of establishing excessive force.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=5145

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