News Release
No Criminal Wrongdoing on Part of Police Officers in Relation to Toronto Arrest
Case Number: 18-TCI-052
In the afternoon hours of February 21, 2018, Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers attempted to stop a stolen vehicle on Bathurst Street. After a pursuit, the driver exited the stolen vehicle and fled. A civilian who was driving in the area blocked the man using his vehicle, and then exited the vehicle and took the man to the ground. Within seconds, TPS officers arrived and the man was arrested. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against a TPS officer in relation to the man’s arrest.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.
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