Man suffers rib fracture during arrest in child pornography case, SIU finds no wrongdoing

Trigger Warning: This article contains graphic details (physical violence)

Niagara Regional Police officers arrested a 54-year-old man in connection with a child pornography case on May 30 at Fort Erie.

According to authorities, the officers entered the residence of the man, located near Phipps St. and Niagara Blvd.

Police say the suspect came to the door, but would not come out to be arrested.

Due to this, they had to make their way into the bedroom to confront the suspect.

The Subject Officer initiated contact with the suspect, resulting in a physical altercation as the suspect resisted arrest.

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“In the NPRS officer’s rendition of events, the Subject Officer delivered a knee-strike to the man’s side when he refused to release his hands from under his body while on the bedroom floor,” the Special Investigations Unit’s report stated.

The officer delivered a second knee strike to the suspect, targeting a leg, after he attempted to kick the Witness Officer.

Additionally, the Witness Officer administered a single punch to the man’s right shoulder after being kicked by him during the ground altercation.

Subsequently, while being handcuffed, the man complained about pain and was taken to the hospital.

He was diagnosed with possibly un-displaced (hair line/simple fracture) left-sided rib fractures,’ according to the SIU.

The SIU launched an investigation into this arrest after the suspect alleged that he was a victim of excessive force, even though he never physically resisted his arrest.

However, according to the evidence provided by the police officers on the scene and another occupant of the residence, who recalls the suspect running up the stairs to his bedroom after realizing that the police were about to enter.

The SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injuries.

There was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, and the file has been closed.