News Release
Toronto Police Officer Charged in Relation to Custody Injury
Case Number: 13-TCI-306
Mississauga (6 June, 2014) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe that an officer with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to the injury sustained by a 24-year-old man in a December 2013 incident. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
On December 12, 2013, the officer was among several TPS officers that took the man into custody in the area of Woodbine Avenue and Danforth Avenue.
As a result of the SIU investigation, TPS Constable Jason Nanton is facing one charge of Assault With a Weapon, contrary to s. 267(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is compelled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall Courthouse, 60 Queen Street West, Toronto on July 17, 2014. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officer and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to 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