Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has determined there is no reason to charge a St. Thomas police officer in connection with the arrest of an intoxicated man last year.
The SIU launched an investigation in June 2016 after a man who was arrested was later diagnosed in hospital with a fractured right shoulder.
According to the SIU, just before 8pm on June 11, the officer was flagged down by two people and told about an intoxicated person on First Ave. The officer took the man into custody behind a plaza.
"The SO [subject officer] first put a handcuff on the right wrist of the complainant, without incident," the SIU report says. "As the SO attempted to put both of the complainant’s hands together, however, the complainant suddenly spun around, faced the SO and raised his handcuffed right hand in a fist. In response to the complainant’s sudden movement and concerned that the complainant could use the unattached handcuff as a weapon, the SO grabbed the complainant and grounded him. The complainant hit the ground hard, landing on his face."
The SIU says the officer noticed that the man's hand was swollen. He was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractured shoulder.
SIU Director Tony Loparco says it's highly unlikely the man's injuries happened during his interaction with the officer.
"I find that his actions were justified in the circumstances and that he used no more force than necessary to subdue the complainant who was clearly resisting being handcuffed," he says. "I also find that the injuries to the Complainant’s shoulder and hand were more than likely caused prior to his ever coming into contact with the SO; however, even if it were caused by the efforts of the SO to subdue the complainant, which I find to be extremely unlikely, I cannot find that to have been an excessive use of force."
After being released from the hospital, the man was given a citation for being intoxicated in a public place. The full SIU report can be read here.
