News Release
SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation Due to No Serious Injury
Case Number: 21-TCI-101
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation the arrest of a 32-year-old man earlier this month in Toronto.
On the evening of April 2, 2021, Toronto Police Service officers had attended the Coxwell subway station following a call of a man seen there with a knife. While there, the officers came across an individual who was found to have outstanding arrest warrants. The man fled on foot but was arrested by officers in and around a residence on Strathmore Boulevard. The man was taken to hospital where it appeared he had sustained a fractured nasal bone.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, I am satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued at this time. Upon review of the medical records, it does not appear that the man suffered any fractures. Accordingly, as this incident does not involve a serious injury within the terms of the SIU’s statutory jurisdiction, the file is hereby 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