News Release
No Charges to Issue in Relation to Toronto Collision Between Police Vehicle and Civilian Vehicle
Case Number: 19-TVI-231
On the evening of September 18, 2019, an unmarked police vehicle was involved in a collision with a civilian vehicle in a Toronto intersection. A 21-year-old man was injured in the collision, having sustained a wrist fracture. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, said while the officer was largely, if not solely, responsible for the collision, he is satisfied on balance that the manner in which the officer operated his police vehicle did not rise to the level necessary to meet the definition of dangerous driving.
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