The Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) of Manitoba has cleared an RCMP officer after a suspect was injured during an arrest.

RCMP were called to a home in Nelson House, about 850 kilometres north of Winnipeg, on January 28, 2018, for the report of an aggressive family member. Police say the man was intoxicated, violent and armed with a knife.

One of the responding officers pulled out his baton and hit the man in the hand holding the knife causing him to drop it. The suspect was arrested under the Mental Health Act. He was taken to the community nursing station where they determined he had a fractured right hand.

According to the suspect he had little recollection of the incident because he had been drinking heavily. Of the four witnesses, all family members, two told investigators that officers had used a taser before the man was hit with a baton. The IIU found no evidence that either officer had a taser weapon in their possession.

It was determined by Zane Tessler, the IIU civilian director, that the force used by the officer in question was reasonable and necessary under the circumstances and there are no grounds to lay any charges against the officer.