News Release
No Charges Against Toronto Police Officer After Shooting Less-Lethal Shotgun at Man in Bank
Case Number: 21-TFP-390
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-TFP-390
SIU Investigating After Toronto Police Officer Fired Less-Lethal Shotgun at Man
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 shooting a less-lethal shotgun at a man in mental distress at a bank on The West Mall last November.
On November 15, 2021, officers attempted to take the man into custody after the man did not leave the lobby of a bank when asked, said he was in possession of weapons and was threatening to harm himself. After attempting to negotiate with the man, officers chased the man who had entered the main area of the bank. Officers discharged a conducted energy weapon as well as a less-lethal shotgun. He was then taken into custody and transported to hospital.
Director Martino found no evidence to reasonably conclude that the subject official or the other officers who dealt with the man comported themselves other than lawfully throughout their engagement.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1866
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