News Release
No Charges Against Toronto Police Officer After Man With Knives Broke Ankle During Arrest
Case Number: 21-TCI-256
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Toronto Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with a broken left ankle suffered by a 38-year-old man when he forced to the ground during his arrest last August.
On August 5, 2021, officers went to Food Basics at 255 Morningside Avenue following a report that the man had threatened staff with a knife and allegedly committed theft. The man left the store and attempted to flee when the officer grabbed the man’s left arm and tripped him. The man continued to resist and was arrested. He was found with two knives.
Director Martino found that the subject official comported himself lawfully in the incident and 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=1663
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