No charges against Ottawa police officer after teen's thumb broken in arrest

The Special Investigations Unit. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Ontario’s independent police oversight agency says there are no grounds for criminal charges against an Ottawa Police Service officer involved in a March 30 arrest that resulted in a fractured thumb for a 14-year-old youth.

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In a report posted online on July 24, the Special Investigations Unit said director Joseph Martino “was unable to reasonably conclude that the officer comported himself unreasonably when he pinned the boy to the street with what was likely significant force.”

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According to a narrative contained in the SIU report, the March 30 incident began at 12:25 p.m., when OPS officers in the ByWard Market saw the teen, who was wanted for criminal offences committed weeks before, including robbery.

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The youth fled as the officers approached him on Rideau Street, but was spotted again on Beausoleil Drive and York Street in Lowertown. A bystander bear-hugged the youth, and an officer came down onto the boy, who was subsequently taken to Ottawa Police Service headquarters and found to be in possession of a quantity of suspected fentanyl. He also acknowledged prior consumption of fentanyl, the report said.

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He was later taken to CHEO, where the fractured right thumb was diagnosed and treated.

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Martino’s report said there had been “urgency” in securing the youth as quickly as possible because the incident occurred directly across from York Street Public School and because police had “credible information” that the youth might be armed.

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The SIU investigates police interactions that may have resulted in death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm and/or sexual assault.

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