News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Injuries in Toronto Police Arrest
Case Number: 22-TCI-254
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injuries reportedly suffered by a 56-year-old man during his arrest by Toronto Police Service officers in September.
On September 26 and 27, 2022, there was an hours-long standoff with police where the man threatened to jump from his 7th floor apartment balcony at an apartment near Eglinton Avenue West and Scarlett Road in Toronto. Officers took the man into custody and he was treated in hospital for lacerations as well as underwent a psychiatric exam.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of medical records, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued at this time. What was initially thought to have been a fractured nose sustained in the course of the man’s interaction with police was ruled out by medical evidence. As for the lacerations, they were found to have been self-inflicted prior to the arrival of the police. On this record, there being no ‘serious injury’ caused by the police within the mandate of the SIU, the Unit was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the matter. As such, 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
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Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES