Journal staff
Ontario’s police watchdog says a Sarnia officer has been charged with assault after a 35-year-old man suffered a “serious injury” in October, 2022.
“The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe an officer with the Sarnia Police Service committed a criminal offence in connection with a serious injury suffered by a 35-year-old man,” the SIU stated in a news release issued Thursday.
The officer is charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm and is required to appear in court on Aug. 3.
“On October 23, 2022, officers responded to St. Paul’s Church on Devine Street for a reported trespass investigation,” the SIU stated. “The man was arrested and subsequently diagnosed with a serious injury.”
As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation.
The Sarnia Police Service also confirmed the charge in a news release, issued Thursday, adding that the officer is not assigned to operational duties pending the outcome of this matter.
"As this is an SIU investigation and now before the courts, the Sarnia Police Service is unable to provide any additional comments."