Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has cleared two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with an injury sustained by a 46-year-old man during an arrest in Huron County earlier this year.
The incident occurred on April 14, 2026, when OPP officers responded to a disturbance call in a rural area near Goderich. According to the SIU report, officers attempted to arrest the man, who became combative. During the struggle, the man suffered a broken ankle.
SIU investigation findings
The SIU, which investigates all incidents involving police that result in serious injury, death, or allegations of sexual assault, determined that the officers' use of force was reasonable and necessary. The director of the SIU, Joseph Martino, stated that the officers acted within the bounds of their legal authority.
“The evidence indicates that the officers were faced with a resisting subject and employed force that was proportionate to the circumstances,” Martino said in a statement. “There is no basis to believe that the officers committed a criminal offence.”
The man was taken to hospital for treatment and later released. His identity has not been disclosed.
Context of police use of force
This case is one of several recent SIU investigations in Ontario. In 2025, the SIU investigated 386 incidents, a slight increase from 372 in 2024. The majority of cases result in no charges being laid.
Critics of police use of force have called for more transparency in SIU investigations, but the agency maintains its processes are thorough and independent.
