Ontario’s police watchdog has cleared an Ottawa police officer after a teenage boy was injured around the time of his arrest this spring. According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ottawa police officers spotted a 14-year-old boy wanted for robbery and assault while patrolling Rideau Street on the afternoon of March 30. The boy saw the officers and then fled, and additional police units were called to help locate him. After being spotted again, the suspect was chased on foot around the York Street and Beausoleil Drive area. While running through the York Street Public School parking lot, a civilian intervened and “bear-hugged” the suspect, and they both ended up falling onto the hood of the vehicle and then the ground. The Ottawa police officer under investigation then pinned the suspect on the ground and arrested him. After his arrest, the suspect was taken to the police station and then the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a buckle fracture of his right thumb. According to a report released on Friday, SIU director Joseph Martino found that the officer deployed reasonable force during the encounter. “He fled from pursuing officers and was only stopped when a concerned citizen stepped into his path and grabbed him in a bear hug,” the SIU said. “Given the Complainant’s determined efforts to escape apprehension, including a prolonged foot pursuit, I am satisfied that it was reasonable for the SO (Subject Official) to move quickly to gain control of him once he was on the ground.” The SIU also said it was unclear when or how the suspect suffered their injury, and that it may have occurred when he was tackled by the civilian or while he was pinned by the officer. “Be that as it may, as there are no reasonable grounds to believe the officer acted unlawfully in his dealings with the Complainant, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case,” The SIU reviewed video footage, spoke to a civilian witnesses and reviewed notes from Ottawa police. The subject officer declined to be interviewed or provide his notes to the SIU, which is his legal right. The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates incidents involving police officers that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
