News Release
SIU Lays Charge against Toronto Police Service Officer
Case Number: 17-TVI-004
Other News Releases Related to Case 17-TVI-004
SIU Investigation Started in Toronto after Man on Bike was Injured
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service (TPS) officer committed a criminal offence in January 2017. As a result, Director Loparco has caused a charge to be laid against the officer.
An SIU investigation found the following:
- In the evening hours of Monday, January 9, 2017, TPS officers responded to the area of McCowan Road and Lawrence Avenue East.
- Police officers located a man riding a bicycle.
- A police cruiser driven by the subject officer collided with the man’s bicycle.
- The man was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
As a result of the SIU investigation, TPS Constable Cole Robinson is facing one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 249(3) of the Criminal Code.
The officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto on July 18, 2017.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, 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