News Release
SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation into Falling Injuries Sustained by Man
Case Number: 19-TCI-076
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the injuries sustained last month by a 45-year-old man after he fell from an apartment balcony in Toronto.
On the afternoon of April 11, 2019, the man was present inside the third floor apartment of an acquaintance when, fearing robbers were outside the door, he and another individual attempted to flee via the balcony. The man unsuccessfully attempted to scale down to the apartment balcony below and fell 15-20 feet to the ground. It was, in fact, police officers who were at the door about to execute a search warrant. The man was transported to St. Michaels Hospital (SMH) where he was diagnosed with injuries to his back and liver.
Interim Director Martino said, “As it is apparent at this time based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries that the man alone is to blame for his self-inflicted injuries, the SIU’s investigation is hereby discontinued 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