Investigation into Cornwall police officers continues to drag

Investigation into Cornwall police officers continues to drag
(Photo : Cornwall Police Service)

CORNWALL, Ontario – A special investigation into how a developmentally-delayed man was severely injured while being arrested by three Cornwall police officers is continuing to drag out.

Way back in May the province’s special investigations unit (SIU) designated six investigators, including an individual who specializes in forensics, to get to the bottom of how the 43-year-old man ended up with a broken rib and other injuries following an arrest May 17 at the Cornwall train station.

A trio of Cornwall police officers, who have not been named, are at the heart of the investigation that SIU says still hasn’t wrapped up.

“The matter is still under investigation,” said Jason Gennaro, a spokesperson for the SIU – a Toronto-based oversight agency that investigates incidents when members of the public are injured by police.

The man in this case required hospitalization following the incident.

Four other Cornwall officers who may have information related to the incident were also to be interviewed by the SIU. It’s unclear what prompted police to attend the train station to confront the man in the first place.

“There is no specific timeline for any investigation,” continued Gennaro. “Each is different and due to their complexity or circumstances – such as evidence analysis, interviews, and external reports from the Coroner or the Centre of Forensic Sciences – some investigations require more time to complete.

“I can tell you that the SIU recognizes the importance of resolving cases in a timely manner.   However, the thoroughness of an investigation takes precedence over the length of time it takes to close an investigation.  No case is presented to the director for decision until the investigation is complete.”

In the meantime Open Hands, an outreach agency that advocates on behalf of individuals with special needs and has ties to the man through social support, said it is taking a wait-and-see approach to the issue.

“We had a couple of discussions with various officers on the force,” said executive director David Ferguson. “But we’re going to wait until the investigation is over” to continue.

In May Ferguson expressed concern with how the incident played out. He said the man in question has recovered from his injuries, and his family has retained a lawyer.

It is unknown if the at the heart of the incident was ever charged by officers as  that information could not be immediately confirmed by Cornwall police.

If criminal charges are laid against the officers, they will come at the discretion of the SIU director.

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