News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation into Male’s Broken Hand; Punched Cell at Fort Frances OPP Detachment
Case Number: 24-OCI-163
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a fractured right hand sustained by a 17-year-old male.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including an interview with the male and a review of video footage that captured the events in question, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued.
The teenager was arrested at the Rainy River OPP Detachment in the afternoon of April 12, 2024. There was a bench warrant in effect for his arrest and he had turned himself in. The male was transported to the Fort Frances OPP Detachment, and lodged in a cell. Later that night, the male punched the cell door and fractured his right hand. He was taken to hospital for treatment and returned to custody.
On this record, there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer in connection with the injury. The file has been closed.
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES