SIU terminates investigation into Kingston arrest of erratic man

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has closed the case on an investigation into the arrest of a man in Kingston in September 2020.

In the late afternoon on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, Kingston Police officers were dispatched after a 911 call reporting a man behaving erratically on Princess Street between Division and Barrie Streets. According to the caller and witnesses, the man was jumping on and striking moving vehicles. In doing so, the man struck his head on the asphalt of the road, the ISU said in a press release on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020.

Arriving officers placed the man in handcuffs without incidents, and he was transferred to an ambulance and transported to hospital. In hospital, the man placed in a medically-induced coma.

According to SIU Director Joseph Martino, the SIU has found no wrongdoing on the part of the officers involved.

“Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of police records and CCTV video footage that captured part of the events in question, I am satisfied that the SIU presently lacks statutory jurisdiction to continue with its investigation,” Martino said.

“Information gleaned from the hospital indicates that the man was placed in a medically induced coma to address his state of psychosis brought on by the ingestion of narcotics. In the circumstances, the investigation is hereby discontinued and the file is closed.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigated the conduct of police officers 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.