The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has terminated an investigation into a Windsor arrest last month.
The SIU said a 36-year-old man arrested June 15 after a traffic stop in the area of Erie Street and Parent Avenue refused to be interviewed by SIU investigators and declined to sign a medical release.
Special Investigations Unit Interim Director Joseph Martino said the driver ran away and eventually climbed a fire escape at the rear of a building on Erie Street. He then climbed into the window of an apartment building above a business, where he was involved in an altercation with two occupants. Investigators added the man then jumped out of the front window and was taken to the hospital for treatment of an injury.
“In the absence of a statement from the man, there is an insufficient basis from which to proceed with an investigation of the potential criminal liability of the officers involved in his arrest," Martino said. "Indeed, the SIU cannot even be certain of its jurisdiction in this matter as the man has refused to authorize the release of medical records that would confirm the nature of his injury."
The interim director said the investigation was discontinued and the file was closed based on the results of the SIU’s preliminary inquiries.
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. Under the Police Services Act, the director of the SIU must consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid.
