The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) cleared Brantford Police officers of any wrongdoing, stemming from two incidents earlier this year.
Stacey O’Brien, Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, has terminated an investigation into a reported serious injury suffered by a 39-year-old man during his arrest by the Brantford Police Service.
The man contacted the SIU on April 8, 2025, to report he had been seriously injured in the course of his arrest by BPS officers in February 2025. The SIU initiated an investigation.
On February 6, 2025, while operating his vehicle in inclement weather, the man left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch. He was arrested in the early morning hours of February 7, 2025, after police were notified by a passerby of suspected impaired driver.
During the arrest the man was non-compliant, a conducted energy weapon was deployed, physical control techniques including a hand and knee strike were used, and he was taken to the ground several times. The man was transported to the hospital, where he was treated and subsequently discharged with no diagnosis of any serious injury.
Medical records, including X-rays, confirmed that the man’s reported rib injury existed prior to police interaction. On this record, it was apparent no officer was responsible for his injury.
The second incident occurred on the night of February 19, 2025 and SIU found no reasonable grounds to believe a Brantford Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the fractured knee suffered by a 54-year-old woman. On the night of February 19, the woman was arrested for causing a disturbance in a residence in the area of West Street and Henry Street.
An officer forcibly took her down to the floor when the woman did not willingly give up her hands to be handcuffed. The woman broke her right knee on impact with the floor.
Director Joseph Martino found a takedown made sense as it would position the officers to better manage her resistance while effecting their purpose.
