A Stratford Police Officer wont face excessive force charges after an eight month investigation by the province’s police watchdog.
The investigation stemmed from an incident last May that saw a 27-year-old suspect run from police after an officer spotted a vehicle in Stratford’s north end whose driver had outstanding arrest warrants.
The passenger, who also had an outstanding arrest warrant, ran off after the vehicle was stopped and police followed him over two electric fences before he started slowing down.
When the officer tried to use his taser to take the man down it malfunctioned and the officer said he tackled him and punched him in the head several times to stop him.
The suspect, who accused the officer of excessive force, told paramedics he hurt his back during the take down and he was later diagnosed with a fracture.
Ontario Special Investigations Unit Director Tony Loparco ruled that after looking at the evidence and medical records he didn’t feel there were grounds to charge the officer witrh excessive force.
