Ontario’s police watchdog has ended an investigation involving a 38-year-old man who fractured his ankle while trying to get away from London police officers last month.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was called in after the man's arrest during a traffic stop in the area of Sanders Street and Hamilton Street around 9 p.m. on June 16.
The driver of the vehicle that was stopped by police ran to the back yard of a nearby home. The police K9 unit was brought in to help search for the man. He was found injured a short distance away and was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured left ankle.
According to the SIU, the man hurt his ankle when he jumped over a fence while running from police.
"There is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of the officers who interacted with the complainant," SIU Interim Director Joseph Martino said in a statement. "No officer was near him at the time. On this record, it is obvious that the man’s injury was not caused by any police officer in any fashion that could attract criminal liability. Accordingly, the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file closed.”
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
