News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation in Toronto
Case Number: 07-TFI-044
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-TFI-044
Eight SIU investigators probed the circumstances of Mr. Dussard's injury. As part of the investigation, investigators identified one officer as having discharged his gun and designated him as the subject officer. The subject officer's handgun and uniform were seized for examination. Forensic identification technicians processed the shooting scene and collected evidentiary items such as a pair of scissors, three wooden planks, a police ASP baton and one projectile. Investigators interviewed twelve police and civilian interviews and analyzed police reports and records.
The SIU investigation determined that on March 1, 2007, at approximately 2:15 p.m., two TPS officers responded to an unknown trouble call involving an irate customer at a Cash Converters store at 3227 Eglinton Avenue East. A store employee had called police after Mr. Dussard insisted on a refund for an item he had purchased.
The officers entered the store and found Mr. Dussard demanding a refund. He was agitated and verbally abusive. The officers decided to arrest Mr. Dussard for causing a disturbance after he continued his behaviour.
Both officers became involved in a physical struggle during the course of the arrest. The struggle moved from the front of the store to a rear storage room. The altercation ended when one of the officers discharged his gun once and struck Mr. Dussard in the upper chest.
Mr. Dussard was arrested and transported to hospital where he was treated for his injury. One of the officers was also taken to hospital where he was treated for a broken hand, fractured finger and bruising. No one else inside the store was injured.
Director Cornish concluded that the officers were alive to the necessity to continually adjust their choice of the type of force to use and varied their approach throughout this event. He stated, "The subject officer saw the use of lethal force as a last option and only resorted to it when he reasonably believed that he was in danger of suffering grievous bodily injury or worse."
Mr. Dussard faces charges as a result of this incident and as a result, the SIU will not be releasing any further information in relation to this investigation in order to protect the fair trial interests of Mr. Dussard and the community.
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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