News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Toronto Death
Case Number: 14-TCD-180
Other News Releases Related to Case 14-TCD-180
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has closed its file into the death of a 22-year-old man. The incident involving an officer with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) occurred on Monday, August 4, 2014.
Five investigators and two forensic investigators from the SIU were assigned to probe the case. The SIU determined that on Sunday, August 3, 2014 the man attended the two day VELD music festival in Downsview Park. On Monday, August 4, 2014 he went into medical distress and was assisted by two men to a nearby emergency medical area. The man began to convulse and paramedics were unable treat him as he was flailing violently. A TPS officer handcuffed the man’s hands to the side rails of a stretcher to allow paramedics to treat him. The handcuff on his right hand was later removed in order to administer medication through IV. On route to the hospital the man went into a cardiac arrest. At that time the ambulance was stopped and the left handcuff was also removed. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of paramedics and hospital staff the man could not be revived.
The evidence indicates the man’s death had nothing to do with the conduct of the police, who had a very brief interaction with him on that day. Rather his death resulted from a combination of myocardial infarction and renal failure brought about by the ingestion of a combination of illicit drugs. Accordingly, there being nothing to investigate as far as possible criminality on the part of the police is concerned, the SIU has closed its file.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations