News Release
Man’s Injury was Sustained During Interaction with Store Security Guard; SIU Terminates Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 22-TCI-024
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the rib injury sustained by a 44-year-old man in Toronto on January 24, 2022.
In the afternoon of that date, the man was confronted for theft by a security guard outside the Home Depot located at 2911 Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto. While the man was able to avoid apprehension by the guard, he was soon arrested by a responding Toronto Police Service officer. Following his arrest, the man was taken to hospital where he was apparently diagnosed with a fractured left rib.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino concluded that the man’s injury was inflicted during his interaction with the security guard. As the man was not seriously injured by a police officer within the terms of the SIU’s mandate, the SIU was without statutory jurisdiction to continue with the investigation. The file has been closed.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES