Inmate's injury at Bracebridge jail self-inflicted, says SIU

NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
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The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the injury sustained by a 32-year-old man last month while lodged in a police cell in Bracebridge.

On the morning of Nov. 12, 2019, the man was lodged in a cell at the Ontario Provincial Police Bracebridge Detachment. At approximately 11:30 a.m., the man jumped up while swinging his right hand at the cell ceiling. The man immediately cradled his right hand following the swing. He suffered a fracture of his right hand.

Interim Director Martino said, “The video recording of the man’s stay in cells captured the moment of the injury. It is apparent based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries that the man and he alone is to blame for his fractured right hand. Consequently, as there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the incident, the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file, closed.”

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
    •    report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General

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