The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) has concluded its investigation into serious injuries to a female during an arrest by Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) officers.
According to the notification received on August 11, 2021, the WPS advised a female had sustained a broken arm during an arrest by police on Forbes Road on August 11, 2021. The officers had been called to a family disturbance. When the officers attended the site, a struggle occurred during the arrest of a female, later identified as the affected person (AP). The female sustained a broken arm.
As this matter concerned the serious injuries of a person that resulted from the actions of a police officer, the IIU assumed responsibility for this mandatory investigation and a team of IIU investigators was assigned to the investigation.
One WPS officer was identified as a subject officer, and four WPS officers were designated as witness officers. Two civilian witnesses were identified and interviewed. In addition, information obtained by IIU investigators included:
- officers’ notes and reports
- statements from civilian witnesses
- call history
- use of force report
- police radio broadcast audio
- WPS prisoner injury report
In this investigation, the IIU’s mandate was to investigate the conduct of the WPS officers. Following a detailed review of this IIU investigation and file material, the civilian director has advised the investigation has determined that due to an unfortunate series of events leading to the arrest of AP and subsequent injury to her arm, there is nothing in the evidence gathered to support any contention that SO’s actions support the allegation that the force used was excessive and unnecessary.
The investigation is now complete and the matter is closed. The affected person remains before the court on charges arising out of this incident. The civilian director’s report on the IIU investigation will be available following disposition of the charges.
The details of this investigation were first announced on August 12, 2021.
