The province's police watchdog has found no grounds to believe Windsor Police committed a criminal offence during a New Year's Day arrest that left a suspect with a broken wrist.
According to the report issued by the Special Investigations Unit, on January 1, 2024, police received multiple calls about a man causing a disturbance and assaulting people on Bruce Avenue, Shepherd Street West, York Street and Wahketa Street.
Upon arrival, the man fled police. The suspect allegedly punched an officer in the head before being brought down by several officers and getting tased multiple times.
The man was handcuffed and taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken left wrist, which engaged the SIU's mandate.
Director Joseph Martino wrote that the officer's force was justified based on the violent and destructive behaviour reported in the 911 calls as well as the man's resistance to arrest.
"Given his combative proclivities at the time, a takedown made sense as it would immediately position the officers to better manage any further resistance by the Complainant. Once on the ground, the SO delivered a series of punches to the Complainant’s head. The Complainant was struggling at the time and refusing to release his hands to be handcuffed. It was important in the moment to quickly subdue the Complainant in light of his violence and I am unable to reasonably conclude that the punches – about two to three of them – constituted excessive force in context," he wrote.
Martino also noted that it was not clear when the suspect broke his wrist as it could have happened "prior to his run-in with the police as the Complainant struck at persons and vehicles."
SIU says with no basis to proceed with charges, the file is now closed.