News Release
No Basis to Charge Officer in Relation to Toronto Collision
Case Number: 19-TVI-210
On August 26, 2019, a Toronto Police Service officer attempted to stop an SUV for Highway Traffic Act infractions. The driver initially pulled over, but then fled. The officer followed. Moments later, the SUV struck a parked vehicle, and then collided with a Honda Civic being driven by a 35-year-old man. The driver of the Civic was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with serious injuries. The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the circumstances surrounding the man’s injuries.
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