The province’s Special Investigations Unit has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against a Chatham-Kent police officer following a Wallaceburg arrest that left a 65-year-old man seriously injured last fall.
The SIU was notified after the man suffered a serious self-inflicted injury during his arrest by Chatham-Kent Police Service officers on Oct. 11, 2025. Following an investigation, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined the evidence did not support a criminal offence by police in connection with the arrest or the injury.
Police were initially called to a Wallaceburg residence in the early morning hours after a report of a woman screaming in a backyard. Officers attended and learned the woman had allegedly been assaulted and confined inside the home. The man inside refused to come out and made repeated threats to harm himself, prompting police to establish containment and call in additional resources, including the emergency response team and paramedics.
According to the SIU, officers attempted for several hours to resolve the situation peacefully through negotiations. As concerns grew for the man’s safety and the standoff continued into the afternoon, police obtained a Feeney warrant to allow forced entry if necessary. When officers ultimately entered the residence, the man injured himself. Officers intervened to stop further harm, took him into custody and ensured he was transported to hospital for treatment. He was later transferred to a Windsor hospital due to the seriousness of his injuries and ultimately survived.
In his report, Martino said the focus of the investigation was whether police conduct amounted to criminal negligence causing bodily harm. He concluded it did not, finding officers acted lawfully and with due care throughout the incident. “On my assessment of the evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the SO committed a criminal offence in connection with the Complainant’s arrest and injury,” Martino wrote.
Martino noted police had information suggesting serious offences against the woman and were entitled to take the man into custody. He said officers made reasonable efforts to protect the man’s wellbeing and public safety, including prolonged negotiations, directing nearby residents to shelter in place and staging medical assistance nearby. While the forced entry may have coincided with the injury, Martino stated police actions also prevented a potentially fatal outcome.
“For the foregoing reasons, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case,” he wrote. “The file is closed.”
The SIU is an independent civilian agency that investigates incidents involving police and other officials that result in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person. The report was dated Jan. 29, 2026.
