News Release

News Release

SIU Investigates Death on 427 South

Case Number: 11-TCD-009   

Mississauga (20 January, 2011) --- Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of a male which occurred early this morning.  The SIU was notified with the following information:

• Officers with the Toronto Police Service responded to an initial call early this morning from a taxicab travelling southbound on the 427;
• Officers attended, spoke with the male passenger and left the area;
• The taxi driver  travelled a short distance and again stopped with concerns about the passenger;
• TPS was again called;
• The male passenger exited the cab and walked to an overpass; and
• TPS officers arrived in the vicinity and were approaching the male when he fell from the southbound 427 overpass at the east bound Gardiner Expressway.

Four SIU investigators are investigating this incident.  Anyone who may have information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Unit at 416-622-2038 or 1-800-787-8529.

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