News Release
No Charges Against Toronto Police Officers After Man Suffers Broken Nose in North York
Case Number: 21-TCI-214
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 broken nose suffered by a 22-year-old man in the course of his arrest last July in North York.
In the early hours of July 8, 2021, the man fired a gun at a security staff member outside a building at Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue. Officers responded and additional gunfire was heard. An officer located the man and ordered him to the ground. He did not comply and was kicked in the chest by the officer. The man refused commands to put his arms behind his back and was taken down, then struck with a series of punches and knee strikes. Following his arrest, the man was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken nose.
Director Martino concluded that the force used by the officers involved did not appear excessive given the clear need to subdue the man and take him into custody as soon as possible. The file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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