NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. -- The Special Investigations Unit says an assault charge has been laid against a Niagara regional police officer in relation to an arrest in August.

The police watchdog agency says officers were sent to a drugstore in Niagara Falls, Ont., to investigate an assault complaint on Aug. 16.

The SIU says an officer located a man behind a business and placed him under arrest, but says the man suffered serious injuries.

As a result of the SIU investigation, Sgt. Michael Baxter is charged with assault causing bodily harm.

Baxter is to appear in court in St. Catharines, Ont., on Nov. 14.

The SIU is an arm's-length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.