SIU concludes LPS was justified in striking a man in August arrest

(Source: London Police Service, Special Investigations Unit, iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Following an incident in August, the province’s police watchdog has concluded that a London Police Service officer did not commit a criminal offense.

On August 26, police were called to a residence where a 39-year-old man was believed to be injuring a dog in the backyard. Police responded to the home in the area of Dundas and Saskatoon Streets.

Upor arrival, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says that when police commanded the man to drop what he was holding and get on the ground, the man tried to walk away.

As he tried to walk away, and officer kicked him, and the man squared up to fight. The man was tased and hit his head on the sidewalk when he fell.

An officer then struck the man in the head, and he reportedly resisted arrest at which point two officers punched him, and he was handcuffed.

The man was transported to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a facial fracture, and admitted for psychiatric exam.

It was concluded through the SIU’s investigation that due to the man’s erratic behaviour upon confrontation, and the abuse of the animal ‘with an object’ that officers had reasonable grounds to be concerned that the man may have a weapon and would physically resist efforts to bring him into custody.

The SIU investigates incidents where a member of the public is hurt or killed in a confrontation with police, where a firearm is discharged, or where there are allegations of sexual assault.