News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Toronto Shooting Injury
Case Number: 06-TFI-106
Other News Releases Related to Case 06-TFI-106
The SIU investigation revealed that on June 25, 2006 at about 2:15 a.m., the Toronto Police Service received a 911 call about a group of men with baseball bats who were in the lobby of 100 Prudential Drive and threatening a tenant. Two plainclothes officers responded and drove into the rear parking lot of the building. While parked, the officers noticed a group of 4 or 5 men walk towards their car.
The officers got out of the car with their service pistols drawn, identified themselves as police officers, and told the men to stop. The men turned and ran to a silver Toyota that was parked on Prudential Drive, with the officers running after them. As the men got into the car, the officers repeatedly identified themselves as police and told the men to stop.
The driver of the car, Selvanisha Selvarasah, drove north on Prudential Drive and under the Lawrence Avenue bridge. The officers ran after the car and became involved in a confrontation with Mr. Selvarasah along Lawrence Avenue. As a result, one officer fired a single shot and struck Mr. Selvarasah in the shoulder. He was taken to hospital where he was treated and then released into police custody.
One of the officers was struck by the Toyota during the confrontation and was treated at hospital for minor injuries.
None of the other occupants in the car were injured.
The Deputy Director concluded that based on the totality of all the evidence, which included security video, forensic evidence and civilian eyewitnesses, it was clear the subject officer was justified in shooting Mr. Selvarasah.
Mr. Selvarasah currently faces charges as a result of this incident. As a result, the SIU will not be issuing any further information on this 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