Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says no charges will be laid against Sarnia police officers after a 38-year-old man suffered serious injuries during a January 26 arrest.
The SIU released the findings of its report on Friday afternoon.
At around 8 p.m. that night, police made a traffic stop in the 100 block of Bright Street. They had been told to be on the lookout for a white vehicle in connection with some recent homicides.
It's alleged the driver got out of his car and became aggressive with an officer.
The officer allegedly exited his vehicle, and struck the complainant with the door, leading to an accusation of assault.
Backup arrived and the suspect was arrested for failing to identify himself under the Highway Traffic Act.
During the arrest, the SIU said the officers wrestled with the complainant to free his arms, which he held tucked underneath his chest as he lay on the ground. Following a series of five punches by an officer to the left face area, the complainant’s arms were handcuffed behind his back.
The suspect was taken to police headquarters where he was held until around 3 a.m. and released on a promise to appear.
The following day, he went to the hospital to be examined by a doctor, and was told he had a possible fractured skull, a fractured orbital, fractured ribs, and a concussion.
SIU Director Joseph Martino said they examined two cell phone videos from witnesses along with other evidence and said "there are no reasonable grounds to believe that any of the four arresting officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury."
"While I accept that the complainant’s fractured rib and swollen black eye were incurred in the course of his arrest, perhaps the result of the takedown, the pressure brought to bear as officers grappled with him to control his arms and/or the strikes delivered by an officer, the evidence does not reasonably establish that any of the subject officials comported themselves unlawfully. Accordingly, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case and the file is closed."
The full report can be found here:
