News Release
Due to Absence of Statement and No Medical Records, SIU Terminates Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 20-TCI-054
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an interaction that occurred earlier this month between a 40-year-old man and Toronto Police Service officers.
At approximately 2 a.m. on March 12, 2020, Toronto Police Service officers arrested a man for public intoxication at a 24-hour A&W restaurant located on Queen Street West. The man was taken to the police station. Reportedly, there was an altercation involving the man and officers as he was being searched, following which the man was taken to hospital for treatment of an injury.
The man refused to speak with SIU investigators about what occurred, and he declined to authorize the release of his medical records. A business card was left with the man should he wish to reconsider speaking with the SIU, but he advised the investigators he would not change his mind.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, it is apparent that the man has no intention of cooperating with the SIU. In the result, the SIU is unable to confirm the nature and extent of the man’s injury, nor is there, in the absence of a statement from the man, a sufficient evidentiary foundation from which to proceed with a full investigation. Accordingly, the SIU 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