Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe a Chatham-Kent police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a spinal injury suffered by a 38-year-old woman during her arrest last year.
In a decision released Tuesday, SIU director Joseph Martino said the evidence did not support allegations that the officer used excessive force while arresting the woman on Aug. 24, 2025.
According to the SIU, the woman had contacted police regarding an assault at a residence near Keil Drive South and Richmond Street in Chatham. During the interaction, she was arrested for obstruction of justice after making contact with an officer.
The SIU said an officer took hold of the woman’s left arm and escorted her to a police cruiser. She was later released at the scene.
The woman was subsequently diagnosed with disc excursion, an injury that required surgery.
“Director Martino noted it was alleged that the officer manhandled the woman during her arrest and subsequent walk to his vehicle. The in-car-camera footage, however, belied that claim. While the officer perhaps compelled the woman forward a little quicker than she would have liked given a pre-existing back condition, the footage fell well short of establishing excessive force,” the SIU said.
Based on the available evidence, Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence, bringing the investigation to a close.
