SIU: Officer never struck woman who allegedly suffered broken nose

A composite image of the side of an SIU truck and a YRP badge.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) director claims, despite an alleged broke nose, a York Regional Police (YRP) officer never struck a woman during a Jan. 1 arrest.

The incident

According to YRP, an employee of a housing support centre in Newmarket called police and alleged that a woman at the centre was being aggressive and yelling at staff.

Police claim housing centre staff had asked the woman to leave, but allege she did not comply. According to SIU, the woman had been prohibited from visiting the centre, in relation to previous charges.

Officers arrived on scene around 8:40 a.m. to speak to the woman, police say.

When an officer attempted to arrest the woman, she allegedly became “assaultive by breaking the skin on his arm with her fingernails.”

The SIU report claims the woman resisted arrest, alleging she “resisted strenuously for a period of a minute and a half” and wrestled with the officer.

Video footage from the housing support centre was reviewed by the SIU.

According to the SIU’s transcription of events, the woman was sitting on a sofa and allegedly attempted to knee the officer’s groin while he was trying to arrest her. She was grounded by the officer, who allegedly used his knee on the woman’s torso to hold her in place.

The woman was not placed in handcuffs until two other officers arrived, according to the SIU.

Following her arrest, the woman was transported to hospital and diagnosed with a broken nose.

Direction’s decision

“There are no reasonable grounds to believe that the (officer) committed a criminal offence in connection with the complainant’s arrest and injury,” said Joseph Martino, SIU director.

“The (officer) used no more force than was necessary in his efforts to effect the complainant’s arrest,” Martino said, adding the woman was a “formidable physical challenge” for the officer.

“He never struck her and the takedown that occurred was more in the nature of the parties rolling off the sofa to the floor,” said Martino.

No criminal charges have been filed against the officer.