News Release
SIU Terminates Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 18-TCI-368
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the September 2016 arrest of a 31-year-old man in Toronto. The SIU was notified of this incident in December of 2018 by the man’s lawyer.
On September 25, 2016, the man was arrested by members of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) for assault. After the arrest, the man was transported to hospital and then later discharged into the care of the police.
Interim Director Martino said, “There is nothing in the medical records to suggest that the man suffered a “serious injury” within the meaning of the SIU’s mandate. Accordingly, I am satisfied that the SIU is without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the matter and the file is closed.”
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