Crown withdraws charges against officer

The crown has withdrawn an assault charge against a Niagara Regional Police officer.

The province’s police watchdog the SIU charged Constable John Garner on March 20th after an investigation into the arrest of man in the lobby of the Niagara Falls police station.  The Special Investigations Unit says 23-year old Jonathan Hughes had gone to the detachment about a ticketing matter on February 6th and was hurt during an “interaction” with Garner and another officer.  The crown says it could not prove that the arrest was unlawful and that Garner used excessive force.  Niagara’s police Chief Jeff McGuire says he’s pleased that the matter has been dealt with and thanked Garner for his professionalism throughout the process.