Hamilton police officer charged after woman seriously injured during arrest

A Hamilton Police vehicle is seen in Hamilton, Ont., Friday, May 2, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

A Hamilton police officer has been charged after a woman was seriously injured while being arrested in Hamilton in February.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) charged Const. Matthew Eleftheriou with aggravated assault on Tuesday.

The SIU did not provide further details about its investigation into the Feb. 23 incident, only saying that its director, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence.

“As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation,” the province’s police watchdog said in a news release on Tuesday.

The SIU is called in to investigate when the actions of police resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.