A Dakota Ojibway Police Service (DOPS) officer has been cleared of any wrong-doing by the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) in a May 19, 2016 arrest at a Long Plain First Nation home.

The IIU says in a release, on May 19, 2016, DOPS officers were called to a home at Long Plain First Nation, where the homeowner was trying to prevent her son from breaking into the residence. Police arrived and found the suspect had been trying to gain entry through a broken window and was bleeding from several lacerations. He was arrested, handcuffed and taken to Portage la Prairie hospital, where he was seen by a physician. As the suspect complained of a sore wrist, his left wrist was examined and x-rayed, but no fracture or dislocation was identified.

On May 20, in provincial court, the suspect claimed DOPS officers had broken his wrist. Once this allegation of a serious injury was made, the IIU assumed responsibility for the investigation in accordance with section 66(4) of The Police Services Act.

The IIU says it completed an investigation into the arrest and injury to the suspect, and has concluded the arresting officer acted appropriately.

“The primary issue for this investigation was whether, at any time, members of the DOPS subjected the suspect to unnecessary and excessive force--from his initial interaction with them, through detention, and while in the care and custody of the police service,” the IIU release reads.

IIU investigators interviewed the affected person, a witness officer, several civilian witnesses and various investigative materials, including medical reports from the attending physician and radiologist.

In his report on the incident, IIU civilian director Zane Tessler wrote that based on the medical and x-ray reports, he is satisfied the affected person did not suffer any fractured bones to his left wrist or arm and accordingly did not suffer a serious injury as defined by IIU regulations.

Furthermore, after studying all the evidence, Tessler concluded the force used by the subject officer was reasonable in the circumstances.

The complete report of the civilian director is available online.