Sudbury officer cleared after man in crisis tased twice, had nose broken
Warning: graphic details of police interaction with someone during a mental health crisis.
Ontario's police watchdog has cleared a Sudbury officer of any wrongdoing after an incident with a man in crisis that resulted in him being tased twice and his nose broken.
Greater Sudbury Police Service was called to check on the well-being of a 41-year-old man acting erratically at his parent's home in Worthington, on the western outskirts of the city, just before 7 p.m. May 28.
The man's stepfather told police he had broken dishes, pulled the stove out of the wall and ripped paintings down from the wall, Ontario's Special Investigation Unit said in a report.
When officers arrived, he was outside beside his van, upset and yelling incoherently accusing them of being aliens and the devil. His mom explained his mental health challenges and despite the officers' efforts, the situation escalated to him threatening to harm himself. That is when the officers called for backup.
"When officers decided that they were going to apprehend the complainant under the Mental Health Act, he became combative and fought with the officers," SIU said.
A physical altercation ensued in the back of the van between the man and two officers with shields, resulting in the man being tased twice. While being pulled out of the van, he was punched in the face by an officer who he had spit at.
He was handcuffed, taken to Health Sciences North and held under the MHA.
"With respect to the force used by the officers in the complainant’s arrest, in particular, the punch delivered by the (subject officer) that likely broke the complainant’s nose, I am unable to reasonably conclude that it was excessive," SIU Director Joseph Martino said in his decision.
The discharge of the two conductive energy weapons "appear(s) to have been a measured and proportionate response in the circumstances," Martino said.
"As the officers were operating in a confined space with a belligerent individual kicking in their direction, there was a need to neutralize the complainant’s resistance from a distance as quickly as possible in the interests of their mutual safety … Having just been spit at, the officer was entitled to quickly deter the prospect of further assault by the complainant."
No criminal charges will be laid against either officer in this case.
Read the full report here.
Background
The Special Investigations Unit is a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates incidents involving an official where there has been death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person or an allegation of sexual assault.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.