The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe that an Ottawa Police Service (OPS) officer committed criminal offences in relation to the arrest of a man in May of 2018. Interim Director Martino has caused charges to be laid against the officer.
The SIU investigation found that on May 9, 2018, the officer was working uniform patrol in the Byward Market area of Ottawa. At approximately 2 a.m., the officer became involved in an interaction with a 24-year-old man. The man was arrested and transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, 33-year-old Constable Liban Farah is facing the following charges under the Criminal Code:
- One count of assault, contrary to s. 266; and
- One count of obstruction of justice, contrary to s. 139(2).
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 161 Elgin Street in Ottawa on September 3, 2019.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
- report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.