A Chatham-Kent police officer is found not criminally liable, following an incident where a 34-year-old resident dislocated his right shoulder while fleeing a confrontation.
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the incident.
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.
“Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries to date, I am satisfied that there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the man’s injury. The man’s injury occurred when he jumped from a fence and fell. On this record, there is no nexus between the conduct of any police officer and the man’s dislocated shoulder. Accordingly, the investigation is hereby discontinued, and the file is closed.”
According to SIU’s release, in April, the officer was operating a police vehicle when he observed a pickup truck that had been reported stolen. The driver failed to stop when the officer signalled him to pull over.
Instead the man turned to travel westbound on Selkirk St. at a high speed, eventually stopping on a lawn on Hillyard St. He then exited the vehicle and fled on foot running through residential backyards and jumping over fences.
Shortly after the man surrendered to police. When the man complained of pain, he was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a right dislocated shoulder.
