The Special Investigations Unit has terminated an investigation against the St. Thomas Police Service after it was found that a women in their custody broke her own nose while she was lodged in a cell.
St. Thomas Police arrested the 36 year old woman around 8:30 p.m. on June 6th for public intoxication and transported her to the police station where she was placed in a cell.
Around 10:30 p.m., the woman was observed on cell video striking the right side of her face with her right hand. She then struck the left side of her face with her left hand three times and her nose started to bleed. The woman was taken to hospital where she was diagnosed with having sustained a broken nose says the SIU.
SIU Director Joseph Martino said that “based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of the cell video recording, I am satisfied that there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the woman’s injury.”
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.
