Source: SIU
The Director of the Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe two Hanover Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with a fractured arm suffered by a man during his arrest back in August.
Martino says, on August 29th, 2021, police were initially called to an address on 7th Avenue after the man had reportedly broken into a flower shop. During a confrontation, an officer deployed his Conducted Energy Weapon (Taser or stun gun) at the man – resulting in his body locking up and him falling to the ground. The man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and subsequently diagnosed with a fractured right arm.
Martino has concluded the force used by the officers was legally justified as the man was brandishing a shovel and broken beer bottle at the time the stun gun was discharged. The SIU says the file has been closed.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians.