News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Toronto Incident
Case Number: 13-TCI-154
Mississauga (17 July, 2013) --- Based on the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) preliminary enquiries into the injuries of a 33-year-old man in Toronto. SIU Director Ian Scott has terminated the investigation.
On Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at 8:17 a.m., a member of the media forwarded an e-mail to the SIU with a link to a You-Tube video showing Mr. Craig Thompson being forcibly arrested by Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers. The narrative included in the video link indicated that Mr. Thompson was hospitalized for a week after the incident and had difficulty walking and difficulty seeing from his right eye.
On July 4, 2013, Mr. Thompson was interviewed by SIU investigators. He signed medical releases allowing the SIU to obtain those records. On July 10, 2013, SIU investigators obtained his medical records. The files indicated that Mr. Thompson’s injuries did not fit the SIU’s definition of ‘serious injury’ necessary to attract the SIU’s jurisdiction, and the director terminated the investigation. However, Toronto Police may conduct its own investigation if it chooses.
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