Winnipeg officers cleared in 2020 arrest that left suspect with broken bones : police watchdog

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has cleared two Winnipeg police officers involved in a February 2020 incident that left a man with a dislocated elbow and broken bones.

The police watchdog concluded there is not enough evidence that would result in reasonable grounds to support criminal charges against eitherof the subject officers after a suspect sustaineda dislocated elbow, fractured tibia and fibula during an arrest on Feb.18, 2020, according to a news release.

An allegation of fractures to a tibia and fibula meets the definition of a serious injury pursuant to the Police Services Act, meaning the matter demanded a mandatory investigation for the IIU.

On the day in question, the complainant attempted to evade police in a stolen vehicle and collided with a taxiin the area of McPhillips Street and Jarvis Avenue.

He was removed from the vehicle, handcuffed and subsequently transported to Health Sciences Centre where he was treated for a dislocated elbow and bruising, and then detained in custody, according to the release.

On Aug. 10, 2020, Winnipeg police received correspondence from the Law Enforcement Review Agency advising that as a result of a complaint, the agencyhad secured medical evidence that indicated the man hadsuffered fractures to his right tibia and fibula as a result of the incident, the release says.

A notification was received the next day saying Winnipeg police had advised officers to respond to a report of a man operating a stolen vehicle on McPhillips Street.

IIU investigators interviewed the complainant and36 Winnipeg police officers as witnesses, and obtained Winnipeg police file material. Investigators also examinedAir 1 video, the complainant's medical release documentation from Health Science Centre, police radio transmissions and several other pieces of information before rendering their decision.

Thereport by the IIU civilian directoris available online.

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