News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man Punched by Officer During Protest in Toronto
Case Number: 24-TCI-257
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a broken nose suffered by a 29-year-old man after he was punched during a protest outside the U.S. Consulate last summer.
On June 8, 2024, the man was seriously injured when he was struck by an officer. Video footage of the incident captured the subject official observing, then intervening in a hand swatting skirmish between the man and another officer. An officer was attempting to gain control of a flag that the man was holding at Armoury Street and University Avenue.
Director Joseph Martino concluded there was evidence to infer that the subject official punched the man to defend another officer from a reasonably apprehended assault.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES