News Release
SIU Charges Toronto Police Officer in Relation to Collision in Whitby
Case Number: 24-TVI-269
Other News Releases Related to Case 24-TVI-269
SIU Seeking Witnesses After Toronto Police Officer Struck Scooter, Injured Rider, in Whitby
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service officer committed criminal offences in relation to a collision in the course of an arrest in Whitby last June.
On the night of June 25, 2024, Toronto Police Service officers were looking for a man in Whitby. Officers located the man while he was riding on a scooter. An officer driving an unmarked Toronto Police Service vehicle collided with the scooter in the parking lot of the Canadian Tire at 4100 Garden Street. One of the two scooter riders, an 18-year-old male, was seriously injured and taken to hospital.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Detective Constable (D/Cst) Joshua Baksh is facing the following charges under the Criminal Code:
- One count of dangerous driving, contrary to section 320.13(1); and
- One count of assault with a weapon, contrary to section 267(a).
D/Cst Baksh is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 150 Bond Street East in Oshawa on March 12, 2025, at 11:30 a.m.
As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES