Ontario's police watchdog has dropped an investigation into an interaction between a 37-year-old man and a St. Thomas police officer.
The Special Investigations Unit was called to the city in July, after a man was taken to hospital after being arrested. On July 24, an officer spotted a man who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Then the officer's cruiser pulled up to the man, he ran off. The officer got out of the cruiser and chased the man and, after a brief struggle, placed him under arrest.
At the police station, the man complained of soreness and was taken to hospital. He was released after medical officials said he was not suffering from a serious injury. The next day, swelling in the man's neck caused him to return to the hospital, where surgery was done to remove a life threatening abscess.
The SIU says the abscess was unrelated to his arrest.
“The medical condition complained about and medically treated was unrelated to the man’s contact with police," said SIU Director Tony Loparco. "Accordingly, I have terminated the investigation into this incident.”
