TORONTO - A Niagara Regional police officer is charged with assault causing bodily harm after a man suffered a broken arm during an arrest last summer.

The Special Investigations Unit says the alleged incident occurred on July 6, 2007 when the officer stopped a vehicle being driven by a 53-year-old Toronto man in Niagara Falls.

The SIU says the man was arrested at the scene and allegedly suffered the broken arm during the arrest.

The SIU issued a statement today that says there are reasonable grounds to lay the assault charge against Const. Christopher Chirico.

He is scheduled to appear in a St. Catharines, Ont., on Jan. 30, 2008 and the SIU says it will make no further comment on this case.

The SIU investigates all incidents in Ontario between police and civilians which result in serious injury, sexual assault or death.