SIU clears officer after man injured during arrest in Huron Shores

The director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has cleared an OPP officer after a suspect suffered injuries during his arrest on Feb. 28 in Huron Shores, states a release issued today.

The incident narrative contained within the director's report states that the 60-year-old male suspect "was taken to hospital, first, the Blind River Hospital and, then, the Sault Area Hospital, where he was diagnosed and treated for a right elbow dislocation."

After he was released from custody on March 2, he attended a clinic where he was diagnosed and treated for several rib fractures.

Full text of the SIU release follows:

On Feb. 28, 2021, a 60-year-old male suffered serious injuries in the course of his arrest by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in Huron Shores. One of those officers was identified as the subject official for purposes of the SIU investigation.

The investigation has now concluded with a finding by the SIU Director, Joseph Martino, that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the subject official committed a criminal offence in connection with the male’s arrest and injuries.

Full director’s report (with incident narrative, evidence, and analysis and director’s decision) can be read here.

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