News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Drug Overdose in Toronto Police Custody

Case Number: 25-TCI-420   

Mississauga, ON (10 February, 2026) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the drug overdose suffered by a 38-year-old man while in police custody. On October 18, 2025, police responded to a reported assault at George Hislop Park and arrested the man for assault with a weapon.

Officers searched the man, and took the man to hospital for his forehead that was cut and bleeding. While he used the washroom, the man attempted to throw concealed drugs into the toilet and he tried to consume an illicit substance. Officers tried to stop him from swallowing it. The man was admitted to hospital for eight days.

Director Martino found that the officers might have considered conducting a more intrusive search of the man, such as a strip search, but that would have meant a stop at the detachment and the man was suffering from a head injury.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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