News Release

No Basis to Charge Officers in Relation to Interaction in Toronto Police Station Search Room

Case Number: 19-TCI-226   

Mississauga, ON (24 June, 2020) ---
On June 24, 2019, Toronto Police Service officers arrested a 24-year-old man for assault at the York University, and transported him to the police station. While in a search room, the man resisted the officers’ efforts to search him and a struggle ensued in the course of which the man was taken to the ground. The search was completed and the man was lodged in a cell. After being released from custody, the man attended hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured rib. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there is no basis to proceed with criminal charges in this case.


Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php. 


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

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