The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) found no basis for criminal charges against an OPP officer that broke a man's ribs during a February arrest in Palmerston.
According to Director Joseph Martino's report, Wellington County OPP responded to a domestic violence call on February 23, around 5:30 p.m. The caller reported that the suspect, her ex-partner, had allegedly assaulted her and caused damage to her property.
Police said the man was known to them and was on probation. He was located a short distance from the house, and when officers went to arrest him "there was a physical engagement" during which the man suffered fractured ribs.
Several witness officers said the officer in question punched the man in the ribs once, which Martino said "would not appear to be a disproportionate use of force."
He wrote that there was no grounds to find that the force used by the officer was "unreasonable" pursuant to Section 25(1) of the Criminal Code.