Ontario's Special Investigations Unit will not lay charges against a police constable in connection with injuries suffered by a man he was trying to arrest at Pikangikum two years ago.
The 43-year-old complainant was diagnosed with a dislocated elbow and possible hand injuries after being arrested at the local dump in October of 2016.
After interviews with officers and civilian witnesses, the SIU determined that the OPP officer had grounds to arrest the man for impaired driving. Blood alcohol tests later found 200 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millitres of blood.
"This level of intoxication obviously calls into question the reliability of the complainant's recollections...For example, he could not recall how he ended up on the ground during his arrest," according the SIU report on its investigation.
The report also notes the subject's reported aggression by witnesses prior to the police stop and his efforts to resist being handcuffed.
Another constable who arrived at the scene as the first officer was attempting the arrest "Saw that the subject officer was involved in a physical struggle with the complainant at the back of (his) truck...They appeared to be grabbing each other's arms and they were moving about and rotating like they were dancing," the report states.
The man was ultimately grounded by both officers but continued to resist.
SIU Director Tony Loparco said he accepts that the complainant was injured during his arrest.
However, Loparco said that given the man's size, level of intoxication and resistance, the conduct of police "did not fall outside the range of what was reasonably necessary to attempt to subdue the complainant and take him into custody."
