The Office of the Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) is investigating a complaint related to a 2018 police arrest at the Ajax Pickering Hospital.
On October 31, 2018, officers were at Ajax Pickering Hospital on an unrelated matter, when they were asked by hospital staff to intervene in a disturbance regarding an elderly couple, police said.
During the arrest, the elderly couple and one police officer suffered minor injuries, the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS), said in response inquiries from several media outlets.
The statement did not specify who was arrested and why.
“The incident resulted in a public complaint filed with the OIPRD, who in turn asked for assistance from a different police service to investigate the complaint. That investigation concluded that the allegations of wrongdoing raised by the complainants were unsubstantiated; however, the officers were deemed to have failed to read the complainant his charter rights upon arrest. Pursuant to s. 71(1) of the Police Services Act, R.S.O. 1990 (PSA), the complainants have requested a review by the OIPRD of the investigation report and its conclusions,”the DRPS statement said.
It said the complainants also filed a private information against the officers. However those charges didn’t proceed because the Crown Attorney’s office withdrew the charges.
Finally, the family has also filed a civil proceeding related to this incident, which is presently before the court. “As a result of the requested review of the OIPRD complaint as well as the ongoing civil litigation, we are not in a position to speak further on this matter,” the DRPS added.