The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Sault Ste. Marie officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 78-year-old man. On January 5, 2024, officers were called to the man’s residence in the area of Wellington Street West and North Street, to check on his wellbeing as he was exhibiting violent behaviour. During the visit, the man physically engaged with an officer and was taken to the ground by officers. He was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed with a broken left finger while in hospital.
Director Martino accepted that the man’s injury was incurred during his interaction with the officers, but he was not satisfied on reasonable grounds that it was attributable to any unlawful police conduct.
