The Ontario Special Investigations Unit has cleared an Ontario Provincial Police officer after a suspect accused him of punching him in the face.
SIU Director Tony Laparco concluded, "I find that it is abundantly clear... that at no time did the [subject officer] punch or strike the complainant in any way."
"I find it is equally clear from the medical records that the complainant's cheekbone was only fractured two days after his encounter with the [subject officer] when he was involved in a fight with a second male," wrote Loparco.
Back on January 25, 2018, the OPP responded to a complaint about a man who forced his way into a known drug house and was causing a disturbance.
The complainant said the officer pushed him face-first into a refrigerator at the drug house, handcuffed him, and then turned him around and struck him in the face.
The report pointed out the allegation changed a couple of times before the complainant admitted to willingly getting into a fight on Princess Ave. in Leamington, two days after the arrest.
It also said officers at the detachment in Leamington, and a suspect being held in a separate cell, all reported seeing no swelling on the complainant's face the night of his arrest. He also did not complain about any injury.
The man was taken to the hospital, but only because he was suffering withdrawal symptoms from methadone. Medical officials also said they saw no facial injuries at that time.
He was diagnosed on January 27, 2018, with a cheek fracture during a second visit to the hospital.
"In conclusion, the evidence of the complainant is neither credible nor reliable," wrote Loparco. "The reliable evidence overwhelmingly satisfies me that at no time did the [subject officer] resort to an excessive use of force against the complainant, nor did he cause the complainant any injury."