Ontario’s Watchdog has made a decision on a case involving an officer with the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS).
On Wednesday, November 13th, at 11:30 p.m., the HRPS notified the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of an injury to a suspect, known in the files as ‘the Complainant’.
According to the HRPS, on the previous afternoon, officers pursued a stolen 26-foot U-Haul moving truck near Highway 401 and James Snow Parkway in Milton. At about 2:00 p.m., a tire deflation device was deployed, and the U-Haul truck was stopped at Highway 7 and Wellington Road 29 in Guelph. Two male occupants fled but were arrested after a short foot chase. A third occupant fled on foot and carjacked a vehicle. She was arrested after crashing a short distance away.
When officers checked the rear of the stolen U-Haul, they discovered a stolen Ford Taurus. Half out of the vehicle was the Complainant – a 45-year-old man. A short struggle ensued, and a conducted energy weapon (stun gun or TASER) was deployed prior to his arrest.
All four arrested persons were taken to the Guelph General Hospital. The only individual with injuries was the Complainant, who after X-rays, was determined to have sustained a fractured rib. It was unclear if the injury was aged or the result of the interaction.
After an investigation, SIU Director Joseph Martino concluded there was insufficient evidence to reasonably conclude the force used was excessive.
The case has been closed.
Read the report here.
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