Police watchdog called in after driver injured during arrest in Rockland, Ont.

An Ontario Provincial Police crest is pictured on an officer's uniform. (Supplied)

Ontario’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate an arrest last week in Rockland, Ontario Provincial Police say.

The OPP say a 27-year-old man was arrested at around 9:45 a.m. on Friday, after officers responded to reports of a speeding vehicle that was believed to be involved in several collisions.

The accused is charged with assaulting a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, impaired driving, and failure to remain at the scene of a collision.

The OPP say the man was injured during his arrest, prompting the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to invoke its mandate.

The SIU told CTV News Ottawa in an email that preliminary information suggests police were called to the area of Heritage Drive and Patricia Street for a collision.

“The driver, believed to have been intoxicated, was involved in two collisions and failed to remain,” the email said.

“The officer located the driver, pulled the man over and removed him from the vehicle. There was a struggle between the man and officers, and the man was handcuffed. EMS was called and took the man to hospital where he was treated for a non-life-threatening injury and released.”

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of police officers that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App