News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Reported Broken Hand Suffered by Man After Arrest by Toronto Police
Case Number: 21-TCI-354
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the reported broken hand suffered by a man during his arrest last October.
On the evening of October 17, 2021, Toronto Police Service officers arrested a man at his apartment on Isabella Street. The man attended hospital the following day. A preliminary investigation indicated the man’s right-hand fractures were pre-existing.
Director Martino concluded that the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to continue the investigation.
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