News Release
SIU Terminates Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 21-TCI-125
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the injuries sustained by a 27-year-old man last month in Toronto.
In the afternoon of April 19, 2021, Toronto Police Service officers were called to a Weston Road apartment for a domestic disturbance. As the officers spoke with a woman about the dispute in the lobby of the building, a man appeared and fled through the rear doors into a parking lot and scaled a concrete barrier. As officers approached, the man let go of the top ledge of the barrier and fell several metres to the ground below. His back was fractured in the process.
Director Martino said, “Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of body worn camera footage, I am satisfied at this time that there is patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal lability of any police officer is concerned in connection with the man’s arrest and injuries. In the circumstances, as it is apparent that the man is alone responsible for the injuries he suffered, 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