Special Investigations UnitSpecial Investigations Unit
Chatham

SIU clears Chatham officers in arrest that resulted in injury

The province's police watchdog found no grounds to pursue charges against two Chatham-Kent Police Service officers after a man's rib was fractured during an arrest.

An investigation into the August 12 incident was launched by the Special Investigations Unit after a 52-year-old man reported serious injuries stemming from an arrest for domestic assault.

That day, officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at a residence in the area of Wedgewood Avenue and Tweedsmuir Avenue West.

According to the report from SIU Director Joseph Martino, the man was found hiding in a closet and he sprayed officers with a beer. He also refused to release his arms to be handcuffed.

Officers reportedly took the man down to the floor and knee strikes were delivered. An officer also delivered a knee strike while they were by the cruiser.

Martino wrote that the use of force was reasonable.

"The officers were within their rights to arrest the man on grounds he assaulted a woman and that he was in violation of curfew," he wrote. "There is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case."

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