SIU clears Guelph Police officer after a December 2016 arrest
Posted Apr 4, 2018 01:55:39 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The province’s police watchdog has cleared a Guelph Police officer for an incident from December of 2016.
Director Tony Loparco determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges, after an 18-year old man sustained serious injury while he was being arrested.
This had to do with a case involving the man allegedly pulling on vehicle door handles.
At the time, the man was charged with theft and assaulting a police officer.
Shortly after the arrest, he was sent to hospital with a possible facial injury but was released into custody when the results came back negative.
But, he returned to hospital a few days later and was found to have suffered a fractured orbital bone.
The SIU says the officer in the case used reasonable force, noting the suspect posed a risk reaching for something in his right sleeve before getting handcuffed.
“While, in hindsight, we now know that the Complainant was not reaching for a weapon, that is not a risk that the (arresting officer) could afford to take in the circumstances,” Loparco’s report read.
CLICK HERE to see the full report.