News Release
Man Died as a Result of Smoke Inhalation in Apartment Unit Fire in Toronto; No Charges to Issue Against Police
Case Number: 20-TCD-089
Other News Releases Related to Case 20-TCD-089
SIU Investigating Death of Man in Toronto
Update: Further Details Regarding SIU Death Investigation in Toronto
In the evening of April 17, 2020, Toronto Police Service officers attended a 12th floor apartment unit where they made attempts to speak with a 32-year-old man who had had barricaded himself inside, and was in distress. After some time, smoke began to seep through the door of the unit and officers realized that a fire had been set. Despite efforts to rescue the man from the unit which had become engulfed in flames, the man died as a result of smoke inhalation. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence was committed in connection with the man’s death.
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