News Release
SIU Terminates Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 20-TCI-291
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries sustained last month by a 46-year-old man in Toronto.
On the morning of November 2, 2020, the man called police indicating that he was going to harm himself. Officers were dispatched. Soon after the first officer arrived, the man began to stab himself with a knife. The officer reacted by deploying his conducted energy weapon at the man, who fell to the ground. The man was subsequently taken to hospital where he underwent surgery for his self-inflicted injuries.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU preliminary inquiries, I am satisfied there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the man’s injuries, which were self-inflicted. On this record, as it is apparent that the man is alone responsible for his injuries, the 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