Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has cleared an Ottawa Police Service officer following an incident in which a 37-year-old man sustained a fractured right knee during an arrest in early 2026.
The incident occurred on January 8, when Ottawa police were investigating an alcohol theft, according to a May 4 release by the SIU. The release stated that an officer was examining bottles inside a backpack at the entrance of a Walmart on Ogilvie Road. A man then took one of the bottles, claimed it was his, and the officer retrieved it.
According to the SIU, the man swiped the officer's hand away, prompting the officer to attempt an arrest for obstructing a peace officer. During the arrest, the officer took the man to the floor and handcuffed him, resulting in the fractured knee.
SIU Director Joseph Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence. The director noted that the takedown was reasonable given the man's aggression and that it positioned the officer to better control the situation.
The SIU is a civilian oversight agency that investigates police incidents involving death, serious injury, firearm discharge, or allegations of sexual assault.
