Ontario's law-enforcement oversight agency has ended its probe of an arrest during which a man suffered an injury.
A person contacted the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in mid-April to report an incident involving Windsor police that took place on the evening of February 25. The person was driving through the intersection of Ouellette Avenue and Wyandotte Street when his vehicle was rear-ended by another that fled the scene. A police cruiser was nearby following the rear-ending vehicle with the intent to stop it for a traffic violation.
"The complainant exited his vehicle following the collision and, spotting the officers’ cruiser north of the intersection, shouted at the officers to pursue the driver of the vehicle that had struck him," read the report from the SIU. "Frustrated by what he perceived to be their inaction, the Complainant then rushed at the cruiser and yelled at the SO [subject official] through the driver’s door."
The police cruiser responded, but the complainant became combative and refused to identify himself. The officer proceeded to detain him for failure to identify, placing him in the cruiser following a short struggle.
The complainant was released a short time later and was treated for a concussion.
In the SIU's decision, Director Joseph Martino said the Windsor officer was justified in detaining the complainant.
"The forcible extrication from the vehicle was necessary given the Complainant’s refusal to exit voluntarily. And the shove to the head onto the roof of the car seemed a proportionate reaction to the Complainant’s turn towards the officer," wrote Martino.
Martino said regardless of whether a concussion was suffered, the officer did not conduct himself improperly. The investigation is now finished.
