Barrie suspect broke finger on tree while trying to flee, SIU rules

Barrie police officers were not at fault when a 36-year-old man broke a finger while trying to flee, Ontario’s police watchdog has ruled.

The suspect broke his finger when his hand struck a tree branch while climbing over a fence, as he tried to escape arrest on Sept. 20, Special Investigations Unit (SIU) director Joseph Martino said in a media release.

Officers went to a Chaucer Crescent home to arrest the man because he had allegedly breached the terms of his court-ordered release.

“It is apparent that the man is alone responsible for his injury. Aside from being the impetus for the man’s flight, there is no suggestion of any conceivable criminality by the officers in relation to his self-inflicted injury,” Martino said.

The SIU is called into investigate any time someone is seriously injured during an encounter with police.