NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
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The director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Guelph Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a concussion suffered by a 43-year-old woman in 2017.
On Oct. 3, 2017, officers arrested the woman for assault. While entering the main entrance into the lobby at police headquarters, she was grounded by the subject official.
Subsequently, while in the booking area, the woman kicked the officer’s right leg. The officer struck her face with an open hand, forced her down onto the bench, and pinned her down for a few seconds. She was released from custody the same day, and went to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a concussion.
Director Martino said he was unable to reasonably conclude that the force used by the officer was excessive. With specific reference to the strike used by the officer, Director Martino said he had just been assaulted and was entitled in the moment to take immediate action to deter any further attack on his person. The file has been closed.
Full director’s report (with incident narrative, evidence, and analysis & director’s decision):
https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1784
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