SIU CLOSES CASE ON WOMAN WHO CLAIMS POLICE INJURIES AT HOSPITAL

BRACEBRIDGE — A woman who claimed she was injured in a hospital parking lot altercation with police on Halloween has lost her bid to have her complaint investigated further by the SIU after they say she refused them access to her medical records.

Special Investigations Unit director Joseph Martino ended the investigation into the “interaction” at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH).

He says in a release today the SIU was made aware of the incident Dec. 11, 2020.

He says that on Oct. 31, the 43-year-old woman went to the MAHC site after “experiencing a panic attack.”

She says when she walked outside to the ambulance bay parking area, she became involved in an interaction with two OPP officers. She later reported she had sustained serious injuries as a result of the interaction, says Martino’s release.

He says SIU investigators made repeated efforts to have the woman sign medical releases that would have allowed the SIU an avenue to verify the alleged injuries, “but she refused to do so.”

“Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, I am satisfied that the SIU investigation should be discontinued at this time,” said Martino. “As the SIU is unable to confirm the nature and extent of the woman’s injuries, if any, the SIU is presently without jurisdiction to investigate this matter. The file, accordingly, is closed.”

The SIU says it is: “An independent government agency that investigates police officers involved in incidents of death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the director of the SIU must:

  • consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
  • depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid.
  • publicly report the results of its investigations
The woman said she was injured in a police altercation in the parking lot after leaving the hospital following treatment for a panic attack last Halloween.