News Release
Toronto Police Officer Charged
Case Number: 14-TCI-280
Mississauga (27 May, 2015) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe a police officer with the Toronto Police Service (TPS) committed a criminal offence in relation to the injuries sustained by 57-year-old Baoshi Yang in December of 2014. Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
In the afternoon hours of Saturday, December 13, 2014, Mr. Yang was arrested by TPS officers in the area of Tracy Street and Queen Street East and subsequently released. Mr. Yang was transported by ambulance to St Michael’s Hospital for treatment, and was diagnosed with a broken orbital bone.
As a result of the SIU investigation, TPS Constable Paul Walker is facing one count of assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 444 Yonge Street in Toronto on July 8, 2015. 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 accused 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