News Release
Man Did Not Suffer a Serious Injury; SIU Terminates Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 23-TCI-259
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 29-year-old man in July in Toronto.
In the early morning of July 6, 2023, the man was walking on Queen Street East in the area of Curzon Street when he was approached by several Toronto Police Service officers. The officers were responding to a criminal complaint and the man had been identified as the perpetrator. The man ran from the officers and fell of his own accord, striking his chest against a curb. He was captured and arrested. While in custody, the man complained of pain to his left abdomen and was transported to hospital.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. A review of the man’s medical records indicated that he did not suffer any fractures but, rather, a ‘rib abrasion’. In the circumstances, as the man did not sustain a ’serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s mandate, the unit was without statutory jurisdiction to investigate the incident. 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