Man suffered fractured foot, needed toes partially amputated
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has cleared two Niagara Regional Police officers of any criminal wrongdoing after a man was seriously injured during an arrest in Thorold last summer.
The incident happened on August 22, 2024, when officers pursued a 27-year-old man linked to a hit-and-run in St. Catharines. The man was arrested and placed in a cruiser but managed to escape and fled on foot. A pursuit followed, during which the man was struck in a collision with the police cruiser. He attempted to flee again before being taken to the ground by an officer.
The man sustained serious injuries, including multiple fractures to his left foot and partial amputation of two toes.
SIU Director Joseph Martino determined that there were no reasonable grounds to believe either officer committed a criminal offence, noting the officer's actions did not exceed the level of care required by law.
(Written by: Brandon Warby)