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No charges against OPP officer in Mattawa arrest

He was the lone officer involved in the arrest of two possibly armed and dangerous men, out in an isolated area in the bitter cold and with the fear that he might at any moment be overpowered by either or both of these men and possibly shot and killed
mattawa siu investigation scene 2017
The location in Mattawa where the complaint of excessive force occurred. Supplied.

The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against an OPP officer in relation to the serious injury a 38-year-old man sustained during his arrest on February 13, 2016 in Mattawa.

Read about the case here.

The SU report states, "In the early morning hours of February 13, 2016, the Complainant and an accomplice went to a house in Mattawa.

Once there, the two were confronted by two people in the house while a third person hid in the basement. A scuffle ensued and the attackers fled in a red Dodge pick-up. The residents then called 911.

An OPP officer responded and spoke with the three people in the house. From the information received, the officer determined that the complainant was involved in the incident, and soon thereafter found him and the accomplice in a grey Jeep.

As the officer was alone and given the information that he had received that the complainant and accomplice were armed with weapons, including a firearm, he armed himself with his rifle prior to ordering the two out of their vehicle.

The complainant and accomplice complied to an extent with the officer's requests to exit the vehicle with their arms raised and to walk backwards towards him and then get on their knees. Once the complainant was on his knees, the officer used his foot to force the complainant onto the ground, striking his back.

Later that same day, the complainant was taken to the hospital and x-rays revealed undisplaced fractures of the ninth and tenth right ribs.

In Loparco's summation he says, " With respect to the amount of force used by the subject officer in his attempt to arrest and handcuff the complainant, a male who he had been informed may be armed with a firearm and had just committed a number of serious offences involving violence, I find that his behaviour was justified in the circumstances.

"The circumstances being that he was the lone officer involved in the arrest of two possibly armed and dangerous men, out in an isolated area in the bitter cold and with the fear that he might at any moment be overpowered by either or both of these men and possibly shot and killed. In this context, I accept that it was impossible for the subject officer to measure the exact amount of force that he used to bring a very stressful and seemingly dangerous situation to a successful close."


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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