News Release
SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 23-TCI-026
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an interaction that occurred in January between Toronto Police Service officers and a 23-year-old man.
In the early morning hours of January 23, 2023, an intoxicated man was arrested without incident at the York University Subway Station. He was taken to the police station, arriving at about 1:50 a.m. Shortly thereafter, an ambulance was called to the station when the man was observed to suffer multiple seizures. Paramedics arrived on scene and began assessing the man no later than about 2:20 a.m. The man was transported to hospital where he was treated for intoxication.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of the man’s medical records, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, in particular, the short interval of time between the onset of the medical crisis and the response of paramedics, there was no question of any want of care on the part of the police in their dealings with the man. As such, there being patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer is concerned, 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