TEMISKAMING SHORES - An investigation into a man injured while in an OPP cell has been discontinued.
Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) director Joseph Martino has ended the investigation into the injuries a 40-year-old man received in July at the Temiskaming OPP detachment.
The SIU is an arms-length agency that investigates police-involved incidents where there has been a death, serious injury, allegations of sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
The morning of July 5, a man arrested the day before who was of "unsound mind at the time" tried to self-harm in the cell, according to an SIU news release.
"This consisted of the man falling backwards such that his head would strike the cell concrete bench on the way down. Officers attempted to enter the cell to render assistance but were thwarted for a period by the man holding the door closed. Eventually, with the use of a conducted energy weapon, officers were able to gain entry and subsequently remove the man from the cell. Paramedics on scene took him away to hospital, where he was treated for cuts to the head," reads the decision.
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Most of the incident was captured on video at the detachment.
Based on that footage, Martino said the investigation should be discontinued
"On this record, it would appear the man’s custodians did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal sanction in connection with his injuries. The file has been closed," said the SIU in the release.
