News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Drug Overdose in Toronto Police Custody
Case Number: 21-TCI-409
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the hospitalization of a 66-year-old man who was in police custody earlier this month in Toronto.
In the evening of December 4, 2021, the man was arrested for impaired driving after a minor collision on Lakeshore Boulevard. Unknown to officers at the scene, the man had secreted a packet of drugs in his mouth prior to arrest. Early the following morning, officers escorted the man out from cells to be released when his level of consciousness began to deteriorate. An ambulance was called and an officer delivered an anti-opiate to the man. Paramedics transported the man to hospital and he was treated in the intensive care unit. He has since made a full recovery.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of video footage that captured part of the man’s time in custody, Director Martino concluded it was apparent that the officers involved did not contribute to the man’s condition in any manner that could attract criminal sanction. As soon as it appeared that the man was in distress, about three hours after he had been taken into custody at the station, the officers acted appropriately to get him medical care. Accordingly, 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES