Latest news with #JosephMartino
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
SIU clears officer of non-lethal firearm shooting
The logo of the Ontario Special Investigations Unit is pictured in Toronto on Friday, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has determined that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) did not commit a criminal offence when he shot a non-lethal firearm at a man in April. The SIU report, Director Joseph Martino said he 'found no reasonable grounds' to believe the officer was out of line when he shot the 60-year-old man who had been setting houses on fire in Gravenhurst April 4. The man was not injured. OPP officers were dispatched to a residential area following calls to police from several homeowners reporting the man set fire to a number of residences. The officer, having reason to believe the man had a knife, shot the man with an Anti-riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) during his arrest. Martino found the use of the ARWEN made sense when the man refused to peacefully surrender and began to close the distance with the officers.
Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
OPP warranted in shooting man setting multiple homes ablaze in Gravenhurst: SIU
Ontario's police watchdog says it has found that an Ontario Provincial Police officer did not commit a criminal offence when they fired a less-lethal firearm at a Gravenhurst man. The Special Investigations Unit says the incident happened around 10:40 p.m. on April 4 in Severn Township. Police were called to a residential neighbourhood after multiple homeowners reported a man setting fire to several homes and structures. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to the SIU, one homeowner reported that the suspect was threatening residents in the area with a knife and appeared to be intoxicated. Police say the suspect had been temporarily residing at a second home before the owner asked him to leave. He then reportedly set fire to that home, as well others, before police arrived. The report says that when OPP officers arrived, the suspect was located in the yard of the second home, where attempts to negotiate his surrender were made. Story continues below advertisement The SIU says the officer, having reason to believe the man had a knife, shot him with an anti-riot weapon and a stun gun. SIU director Joseph Martino found the use of the ARWEN made sense when the man refused to peacefully surrender and began to close the distance with the officers. 'Although believed uninjured, he had been taken to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital (OSMH) for examination,' the report reads.
CBC
3 days ago
- CBC
Ontario's police watchdog clears Windsor officer after cruiser hit cyclist in April
Ontario's police watchdog says it found "no reasonable grounds" to believe a Windsor officer committed a criminal offence after a fully-marked Ford Explorer cruiser hit a bicycle and injured the man riding it. The collision happened around 1:40 p.m., on April 6, 2025, while the officer was en route to another call in the area of Glengarry Avenue and Assumption Street. That's just east of Windsor's downtown core. "He made a left turn to go eastbound on to Assumption Street, and collided with a cyclist, the complainant, who had entered on to Assumption Street from a private pathway," according to an online report from the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU). The SIU says the victim, a 46-year-old man, suffered fractures to his left clavicle, left finger, left rib and hip. At the time of the collision, the injuries were described as "serious, but non-life threatening." SIU Director Joseph Martino concluded the collision appeared to stem from the cyclist failing to check for approaching traffic before entering traffic from the alley. Tire marks from the police cruiser were found on the road and the vehicle had minor damage to the front passenger side corner and headlight — with some black scuff marks on the hood and some dents, according to the report. The bicycle involved was a black Raleigh mountain bike. The SIU says it had damage to the front wheel and spokes. It was found in the middle of the road on its right side, about three metres east of the cruiser, near the south curb of the intersection. The report stated video footage in the area showed the complainant land on the hood of the cruiser — then fell from it while being launched several metres east on to the pavement. Martino said the officer had only travelled a short distance from the police station before the collision happened. "During that brief period, there is no indication of any substandard driving behaviour by the officer," he said. "Rather, the collision seems the unfortunate result of the complainant failing to check for approaching traffic." The agency's investigative team was comprised of seven people.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
SIU concludes investigation into Sarnia police chase where motorcyclist was injured
The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has finished investigating an incident in Sarnia that saw a 31-year-old man suffer serious injuries in a motorcycle collision. On March 27, 2025, the man fled police during a traffic stop and ended up involved in a collision, resulting in a partial amputation of his left foot, according to the SIU. SIU Director Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Sarnia Police Service officer committed a criminal offence. You can read the full director's report here. The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
No criminal offence for WPS officer in collision with cyclist: SIU
The SIU is investigating a collision involving a Windsor police cruiser and a cyclist on Aylmer Avenue in Windsor, Ont. (Source: Austin Kerr) The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said a Windsor Police Service officer didn't commit a criminal offence after a cyclist was hit earlier this year. The incident took place on April 6. A 46-year-old man was on his bicycle when he was hit by a police officer. The officer was on their way to a call when the collision happened. The cyclist sustained fractures. Director Joseph Martino said the collision was 'the unfortunate result of the cyclist failing to check for approaching traffic before entering onto Assumption Street from the alley.'
