Nishnawbe Aski Police officers cleared of wrongdoing in connection with man's injuries

Ontario's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has cleared officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS) of any wrongdoing in connection with a man's injuries in a police cell earlier this year.

The incident stems from the arrest of a 33-year-old man who was charged with assault the evening of Jan. 13 and placed in a police cell at the NAPS Mishkeegogamang detachment. 

Mishkeegogamang First Nation is about 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay. 

"After the man made suicidal utterances, officers entered his cell, removed his clothing and had him put on a security gown. Concerned the man could use the gown or its pieces to self-harm, the officers then removed the gown," the SIU said in a news release issued Friday.

"As the officers closed the cell door behind them while leaving the cell, the man caught his left hand between the door jamb and door."

The man suffered two finger fractures as a result, said the SIU.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

SIU director Joseph Martino has determined there were "no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man's injuries."