SIU says officers didn't break the law during Rockwood arrest that left woman with a fractured arm

[Michael Jack]

Ontario's police watchdog says officers did not use excessive force during an arrest that left a woman with a broken arm. As a result, no criminal charges will be laid.

On Sept. 19, 2020, Ontario Provincial Police officers were sent to a residence in Rockwood after a man called 911 to report his girlfriend was hitting him and damaging his property.

During the incident, the 28-year-old woman attempted to flee officers and "struggled vigorously" to avoid arrest, the Special Investigations Unit report says.

SIU director Joseph Martino wrote that there is some evidence the fracture happened during the arrest or subsequent takedown, but added "there are no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the woman’s arrest and injury."

"I accept that the (subject officer) forcefully brought the Complainant’s right arm out from under her body and behind her back. I further accept that this maneuver (sic) may well have broken the Complainant’s arm, although there is evidence that the takedown may have caused or contributed to the injury.

"Be that as it may, I am satisfied on reasonable grounds that the (subject officer)'s force fell within the range of what was reasonably necessary at the moment," Martino wrote.

The officer in question declined an SIU interview.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police officers and other officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury or sexual assault.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated the SIU was unable to determine whether officers used excessive force during the arrest. Torstar regrets the error.

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