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Punching of naked man in nose by Guelph, Ont. cop was reasonable use of force: SIU

Guelph police say DNA was the key to arresting a 31–year-old woman in connection to a stolen vehicle case. Francis Vachon / File / The Canadian Press

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — The province’s Special Investigations Unit says a Guelph, Ont., police officer’s use of force was reasonable in the arrest of a naked man a year ago.

The police watchdog agency says two officers located a man after responding to numerous reports on July 15, 2015, of a naked man walking along the street.

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The officers approached the man, who had opened the door of a van and was rummaging through the contents, and apprehended him under the Mental Health Act.

READ MORE: 2 Toronto police officers cleared in shooting death of man wanted for murder: SIU

Once handcuffed, the man became combative and kicked out at one of the officers four times, hitting the officer once.

The SIU says one of the officers struck the man once, and he became compliant and was taken to hospital with a fractured nasal bone.

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SIU director Tony Loparco says the officer delivered a strike in response to the man lashing out physically, subdued the man with the single punch and no other force was applied after the punch.

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