Halton officers cleared in case where arrestee had alcohol overdose

The provincial police watchdog has dropped an investigation into two Halton police officers, who responded to a call that culminated with a 20-year-old arrestee being taken to hospital with an alcohol overdose.

The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says it was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate because the man “did not suffer any senious injury within the SIU’s mandate.” The SIU has the jurisdiction whenever a person in Ontario is seriously injured or dies during an interaction with law enforcement. Police officers can be criminally charged in the process.

The SIU said in a media release that Halton Regional Police Service officers were called to a residence on Commercial Street in Milton on March 27. They found several individuals, including the man, who were fighting in front of the house. They arrested the man, who then lapsed into unconsciousness while in HRPS custody.

He was then taken to a nearby hospital, he was diagnosed with an alcohol overdose. The man’s medical records were checked before SIU director Joseph Martino opted to close the file.

“Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of the man’s medical records, he did not suffer any serious injury within the SIU’s mandate,” a statement from the SIU issued Friday read.