Director's Report Details

The Special Investigations Unit is a civilian law enforcement agency that investigates incidents involving an official where there has been death, serious injury, the discharge of a firearm at a person or an allegation of sexual assault. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019 (SIU Act), officials are defined as police officers, special constables of the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers under the Legislative Assembly Act. The SIU’s jurisdiction covers more than 50 municipal, regional and provincial police services across Ontario.

Under the SIU Act, the Director of the SIU must determine based on the evidence gathered in an investigation whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence was committed. If such grounds exist, the Director has the authority to lay a criminal charge against the official. Alternatively, in cases where no reasonable grounds exist, the Director cannot lay charges. Where no charges are laid, a report of the investigation is prepared and released publicly, except in the case of reports dealing with allegations of sexual assault, in which case the SIU Director may consult with the affected person and exercise a discretion to not publicly release the report having regard to the affected person’s privacy interests.

Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019

Pursuant to section 34, certain information may not be included in this report. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• The name of, and any information identifying, a subject official, witness official, civilian witness or affected person.
• Information that may result in the identity of a person who reported that they were sexually assaulted being revealed in connection with the sexual assault.
• Information that, in the opinion of the SIU Director, could lead to a risk of serious harm to a person.
• Information that discloses investigative techniques or procedures.
• Information, the release of which is prohibited or restricted by law.
• Information in which a person’s privacy interest in not having the information published clearly outweighs the public interest in having the information published.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Personal Privacy Act

Pursuant to section 14 (i.e., law enforcement), certain information may not be included in this report. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Confidential investigative techniques and procedures used by law enforcement agencies; and
• Information that could reasonably be expected to interfere with a law enforcement matter or an investigation undertaken with a view to a law enforcement proceeding.

Pursuant to section 21 (i.e., personal privacy), protected personal information is not included in this report. This information may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• The names of persons, including civilian witnesses, and subject and witness officials;
• Location information;
• Witness statements and evidence gathered in the course of the investigation provided to the SIU in confidence; and
• Other identifiers which are likely to reveal personal information about individuals involved in the investigation.

Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004

Pursuant to this legislation, any information related to the personal health of identifiable individuals is not included.

Other proceedings, processes, and investigations

Information may also have been excluded from this report because its release could undermine the integrity of other proceedings involving the same incident, such as criminal proceedings, coroner’s inquests, other public proceedings and/or other law enforcement investigations.

Pursuant to section 15 of the SIU Act, the SIU may investigate the conduct of officials, be they police officers, special constables of the Niagara Parks Commission or peace officers under the Legislative Assembly Act, that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

A person sustains a “serious injury” for purposes of the SIU’s jurisdiction if they: sustain an injury as a result of which they are admitted to hospital; suffer a fracture to the skull, or to a limb, rib or vertebra; suffer burns to a significant proportion of their body; lose any portion of their body; or, as a result of an injury, experience a loss of vision or hearing.

In addition, a “serious injury” means any other injury sustained by a person that is likely to interfere with the person’s health or comfort and is not transient or trifling in nature.

This report relates to the SIU’s investigation into the serious injury of a 44-year-old man (the “Complainant”).

Notification of the SIU[1]

On March 4, 2026, at 12:10 a.m., the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) contacted the SIU with the following information.

On March 3, 2026, at 10:48 p.m., OPS officers were called to an address in the area of Robertson Road and Moodie Drive, Ottawa. A man had reported a loud disturbance in a unit. A male, now known to be the Complainant, had reportedly jumped from the second story unit and was running towards Robertson Road. He was described as wearing long pants and no shirt. Officers arrived at the unit, observed a smashed bedroom window and spoke with an occupant of the unit, who said that his roommate, the Complainant, was having a mental health episode and had jumped out the window. At 10:55 p.m., an employee at a McDonald’s restaurant [2126 Robertson Road] phoned the OPS and reported that a male [the Complainant] had climbed onto the roof of the restaurant. Officers attended, located the Complainant on the second-story roof and attempted to convince him to climb down. At 11:07 p.m., the Complainant removed his clothing and jumped from the roof to the ground below. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were called and attended the scene. Paramedics advised officers that the Complainant had an obvious fracture to his left foot and possible fracture to his right leg. The Complainant was taken to the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus (OHCC) where it was confirmed he had a fractured right leg and fractured left foot.

The Team

Date and time team dispatched: 2026/03/04 at 8:48 a.m.

Date and time SIU arrived on scene: 2026/03/04 at 9:38 a.m.

Number of SIU Investigators assigned: 4

Number of SIU Forensic Investigators assigned: 0

Affected Person (aka “Complainant”)

44-year-old male; interviewed; medical records obtained and reviewed

The Complainant was interviewed on March 5, 2026.

Civilian Witness (CW)

CW Interviewed

The civilian witness was interviewed on May 5, 2026.

Subject Official (SO)

SO Declined interview, as is the subject official’s legal right; notes received and reviewed

Witness Officials (WO)

WO #1 Interviewed; notes received and reviewed

WO #2 Not interviewed; notes reviewed, and interview deemed unnecessary

The witness official was interviewed on March 12, 2026.

The Scene

The events in question transpired on and around the parking lot to the immediate west of the McDonald’s, 2126 Robertson Road, Ottawa.

At the time of the incident, weather conditions were cold, and small snowbanks were present in the areas surrounding the McDonald’s parking lot.

Video/Audio/Photographic Evidence[2]

OPS Communications Recordings – 911

On March 3, 2026, at 10:35:31 p.m., a 911 call-taker received a call from the Complainant claiming they were at an address in the area of Robertson Road and Moodie Drive and there were people trying to break into his room. The Complainant sounded frantic and was difficult to understand. The call-taker requested the address from the Complainant, and the Complainant provided a street name. At one minute and 28 seconds of the audio recording, the Complainant said, “Fuck man, fuck,” after which there was silence on the line.

At 10:38:41 p.m., the call-taker opened the Complainant’s line, which captured him in a

highly distressed and erratic state with unclear speech, escalating profanity and heavy breathing. There were also repeated sounds of breaking glass. The Complainant yelled for help but was unable or unwilling to provide a clear address before the call abruptly ended.

At 10:48:25 p.m., a witness called 911 and reported an ongoing disturbance at an address in the area of Robertson Road and Moodie Drive involving fighting, shouting and breaking glass. He observed a shirtless man [the Complainant] fleeing the area.

At 10:57:25 p.m., McDonald’s staff members called 911 and reported a half-naked, possibly injured man [the Complainant] on the restaurant roof at 2126 Robertson Road, exhibiting erratic behaviour, threatening to jump, and appearing to be in a mental health crisis. Employees attempted to calm him until police arrived.

OPS Communications Recordings – Radio

OPS initially responded to a report of glass breaking and a man [the Complainant] running from an address in the area of Robertson Road and Moodie Drive, with signs of a possible disturbance. Shortly after, multiple units were dispatched to 2126 Robertson Road for a half-naked man [the Complainant] on a roof of McDonald’s threatening to jump, believed to be the same individual.

The Complainant was observed hanging off the roof and subsequently fell, sustaining serious injuries, including leg and foot fractures. EMS transported him to hospital where he was described as combative. An officer found the Complainant’s wallet and identification confirmed his identity.

Follow-up at the Complainant’s residence suggested the Complainant had been alone despite earlier reports of a possible second party.

OPS In-car Camera (ICC) Footage - Officer #1’s Cruiser

On March 3, 2026, at 10:58:46 p.m., the SO radioed that he was at McDonald’s and a man [the Complainant] was hanging off the roof. He requested Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) immediately.

At 11:02:30 p.m., Officer #1 arrived on scene of the McDonald’s at 2126 Robertson Road. He parked on the northwest side of McDonald’s, remaining on Robertson Road. Two other police cruisers were on scene: one on Robertson Road and the other at the front entrance of McDonald’s, both on the north side.

On the northwest side of the building was a red wall with the McDonald’s “M” logo near the top of the building. This portion of the restaurant was the highest point of the building. The video showed an unclear image of a person [the Complainant] at the top of the red wall. When the cruiser arrived, the Complainant looked like he was kneeling on the top of the wall.

At 11:02:41 p.m., WO #1 radioed that there were enough cruisers on scene and asked arriving cruisers to stand down.

At 11:03:27 p.m., the Complainant appeared to crawl over the edge of the sign and stand on the “M” attached to the building.

At 11:03:49 p.m., the Complainant appeared to have crawled back to the top of the wall.

At 11:05:14 p.m., Officer #1 radioed that he was trying to find a way onto the roof of the McDonald’s.

At 11:05:49 p.m., the Complainant was observed climbing over the edge of the wall and was subsequently seen standing again at the top.

At 11:06:13 p.m., the Complainant crawled over the edge of the wall and appeared to make his way onto the “M” near the top of the wall.

At 11:06:36 p.m., a staff sergeant radioed direction that the entrance to the restaurant was to be blocked off.

At 11:06:42 p.m., the Complainant fell to the ground, feet-first.

At 11:06:46 p.m., WO #1 radioed that the Complainant had fallen from the roof and asked for ambulance on high priority.

At 11:07:48 p.m., a paramedic SUV arrived on scene with emergency lights activated. Approximately 40 seconds later, a second ambulance arrived and travelled onto the McDonald’s parking lot.

At 11:11:02 p.m., Officer #2 radioed they were still at the Complainant’s residence where it appeared as though someone had jumped or fallen out the second story window. There was broken glass everywhere.

At 11:29:58 p.m., Officer #1 advised dispatch that the Complainant was being transported to OHCC in an ambulance.

Video Footage - McDonald’s

At about 8:00 p.m.,[3] March 3, 2026, OPS officers arrived at the parking lot of the McDonald’s restaurant. Two officers were visible - the SO and WO #1. Both officers walked towards the front northwest corner of the building. OPS cruisers were positioned at the driveway entrance off Robertson Road and at the rear driveway located on the southwest side of the building. Emergency lighting on the police vehicles was activated and visible within the footage by reflection.

WO #1 engaged in an initial dialogue with the Complainant, who was known at that time to be positioned on the roof of the restaurant. The SO walked out of camera view towards Robertson Road.

Beginning at about 8:05 p.m., the SO appeared to engage in a verbal interaction with the Complainant, who remained positioned on the roof.

At 8:08:20 p.m., the Complainant suddenly entered the camera’s view as he fell from the roof, landing feet-first onto the asphalt or patio stone surface below.At the time of the fall, the Complainant was wearing only underwear. Several OPS officers, including the SO, immediately responded to the Complainant. The Complainant was placed in handcuffs, and EMS and OFS attended to him. The Complainant was subsequently placed onto a gurney and loaded into an ambulance.

Cellphone Footage - The CW

The CW provided a five-second video clip captured on his cellular device, depicting the Complainant hanging from the highest point of the McDonald’s structure immediately prior to, and during, his fall.

On March 3, 2026, at 11:06:38 p.m., the video showed the Complainant hanging from the edge of the roof or lights on the roof of the McDonalds.

At 11:06:42 p.m., an announcement was made on a public address system, and the Complainant was seen falling from the roof.

At 11:06:43 p.m., the video ended with the Complainant in freefall to the ground.

Materials Obtained from Police Service

Upon request, the SIU received the following materials from the OPS between March 4, 2026, and June 10, 2026:

• General Occurrence Report
• List of Involved Officers
• Police communications recordings
• Computer-aided Dispatch Reports
• Witness statement
• Cellphone video footage – the CW
• ICC footage – Officer #1[4]
• Notes – WO #1, WO #2 and the SO
• Investigative Action Reports - WO #1, WO #2 and the SO
• Doorbell camera footage
• Bedroom photographs
• OPS History – the Complainant

Materials Obtained from Other Sources

The SIU obtained the following records from the following other sources between March 6, 2026, and May 8, 2026.

• The Complainant’s medical records from OHCC
• Photographs and cellphone footage from the CW
• Video footage from McDonald’s Restaurant, 2126 Robertson Road

The material events in question are clear on the evidence collected by the SIU and may briefly be summarized.

In the evening of March 3, 2026, OPS officers making their way to a reported domestic disturbance at an address in the area of Robertson Road and Moodie Drive, Ottawa, altered course to a nearby McDonald’s on Robertson Road following a related call about a male on the roof of the building. The SO was the first officer on scene, arriving just before 11:00 p.m., followed shortly by WO #1 and WO #2.

The male on the roof was the Complainant. The Complainant was of unsound mind. He had earlier called police from his second-floor residence, reporting that people were attempting to break into his room. He subsequently exited his residence through a window only partially dressed, and made his way to the McDonald’s. There he ascended onto the roof via an exterior ladder and perched himself at its highest point by the northwest corner of the building. He would eventually remove his pants, so that he was only wearing underwear.

The SO and WO #1 called up to the Complainant attempting to persuade him to come down safely. The Complainant threatened he would jump if not provided a cigarette and, on a couple of occasions, hung from a light bar attached to the top of the exterior wall. As these negotiations were ongoing, a fire truck appeared on scene. About seven minutes after the arrival of the police, the Complainant again hung on the exterior wall of the building, holding the light bar. This time, he lost his grip and fell a couple of stories to the ground, landing feet-first.

The Complainant was transported to hospital and diagnosed with multiple fractures of both feet.

Sections 219 and 221, Criminal Code - Criminal Negligence Causing Bodily Harm

219 (1) Every one is criminally negligent who

(a) in doing anything, or

(b) in omitting to do anything that it is his duty to do,

shows wanton or reckless disregard for the lives or safety of other persons.

(2) For the purposes of this section, duty means a duty imposed by law.

221 Every person who by criminal negligence causes bodily harm to another person is guilty of (a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

The Complainant was seriously injured in a fall from height in Ottawa on March 3, 2026. As police officers were in the vicinity communicating with the Complainant at the time, the SIU was notified and initiated an investigation. The SO was identified as the subject official. The investigation is now concluded. On my assessment of the evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the SO committed a criminal offence in connection with the Complainant’s injuries.

The SO and his colleagues were in the exercise of their lawful duty to protect and preserve life when they attended at the McDonald’s in an effort to prevent harm coming to the Complainant. In the few minutes they had available before the Complainant fell, they tried to reason with him to come down safely. Part of that effort included steps taken by WO #1 to de-escalate the situation by limiting the number of cruisers and officers responding to the scene. Following the Complainant’s fall, the officers acted quickly to render care. On this record, there is no evidence of any want of care on the part of the officers contributing to the Complainant’s misfortunes.

For the foregoing reasons, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case. The file is closed.

Date: June 15, 2026

Electronically approved by

Joseph Martino

Director

Special Investigations Unit