KAWARTHA LAKES-The Special Investigations Unit (SIU)has found no reasonable grounds to believe a Peterborough Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a fractured spine suffered by a 25-year-old woman in the course of her arrest in January.
On January 18, 2022, the woman was arrested by an off-duty Peterborough Police Service officer for theft at a store on Charlotte Street. An on-duty officer arrived and the woman attempted to escape according to the SIU. The officer gave chase and took her to the ground. Police say the woman was arrested, taken to the police station and, initially, declined medical attention. Several hours later, at her request, paramedics attended and took her to hospital where she was diagnosed with two acute or subacute compression fractures of the spine and a possible age-indeterminate neck fracture.
SIU Director Joseph Martino accepted that the woman’s serious injuries likely resulted from the takedown by the officer; however, he found no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case.
“The takedown itself would not appear to have been executed in an overly aggressive manner.” said Director Martino. “Indeed, that was the impression of a civilian witness present in the vestibule at the time. Thereafter, with the Complainant in a prone position, I am satisfied that the SO placed a knee on her lower back with some pressure as he took control of her arms and handcuffed them behind her back. That action, a natural extension of the takedown maneuver if the intention was to keep one pinned to the ground while effecting their arrest, would also not appear to have been executed with undue force.”
The file has now been closed.
