News Release

News Release

No Charges Against Toronto Police Officers in Death of Toronto Woman

Case Number: 20-TCD-284   

Other News Releases Related to Case 20-TCD-284

SIU Investigating Death of Man in Toronto
Update Regarding SIU Investigation into Death of Individual in Toronto
November 19, 2020 Update: SIU Investigation into Death of Woman in Toronto

Mississauga, ON (10 November, 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 the death of a 30-year-old Toronto woman in 2020.

In the morning of October 26, 2020, officers went to the woman’s apartment unit on Bellamy Road to check on her wellbeing following a 911 call from her cellphone that became disconnected. Officers found the woman in her apartment in mental distress, took her into custody under the Mental Health Act, and brought her to hospital for assessment. The woman died in hospital. Her death was attributed to methamphetamine toxicity.

Director Martino said he was satisfied the responding officers conducted themselves with due care and regard for the woman’s health and safety. In conclusion, he found no reasonable grounds to believe that either officer transgressed the limits of care prescribed by the criminal law throughout their interactions with the woman. Accordingly, 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=1632

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