Ontario's police watchdog has dropped an investigation into the injury of a man last month at St. Thomas police headquarters after it was determined the 20-year-old was not seriously hurt.
According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the man was arrested after he walked into the police station on Caso Crossing early on March 16, began drinking alcohol and refused to leave.
The man was taken to a cell after his arrest.
Video footage showed the man stumble and fall in the cell, hitting his head against the concrete wall, the SIU said.
The man was then taken to hospital with what at the time was believed to be a brain hemorrhage.
"Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, I am satisfied that the SIU’s investigation should be discontinued at this time, as subsequent imaging at hospital ruled out the man having suffered a brain hemorrhage," said SIU Director Joseph Martino. "In the circumstances, as the man did not suffer a 'serious injury' within the mandate of the SIU, the unit is without statutory jurisdiction in this case and the file is closed.”
As an independent government agency, the SIU investigates incidents involving police officers in which there has been death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault.
