News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation of a Serious Injury Suffered by Man While Fleeing Police in Toronto
Case Number: 21-TCI-219
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation of a broken right heel suffered by a man in a fall while fleeing Toronto Police Service officers last month.
On the afternoon of July 14, 2021, a man fled from officers pursuing him for reportedly stealing knives from a Canadian Tire store on Danforth Avenue. The man ran and jumped over a fence at Sobeys grocery store on Danforth Avenue. He landed into a loading bay at a drop of two to three metres. No officers were present when the man jumped the fence and was injured.
Director Martino concluded that it was apparent the man was solely responsible for his broken foot. As a result, the investigation has been 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
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES