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
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.