News Release

News Release

No Charges Against Toronto Police After Man’s Death Following Arrest

Case Number: 21-TCD-179   

Other News Releases Related to Case 21-TCD-179

SIU Investigating the Circumstances Surrounding the Death of a Male Driver who was Arrested by Police and then Died After His Admission to Hospital

Mississauga, ON (7 October, 2021) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that two Toronto Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with a 55-year-old man’s death following his arrest in June.

In the morning of June 9, 2021, officers and paramedics responded to a 911 call for the man who was interfering with traffic in the intersection at Main Street and Danforth Avenue. Officers attempted to get the man to move to the sidewalk without success. The man was arrested under the Mental Health Act after he fell to the ground. Following his arrest, the man was taken to hospital via ambulance. The man died in hospital. The cause of death has yet to be determined. 

Director Martino concluded there was no evidence that any of the officers involved in the man’s apprehension failed to treat him with due care and regard for his health and well-being, or that they used excessive force in his arrest. The file has been closed.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1592

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