News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Serious Injury of Boy, 15, in Toronto
Case Number: 23-TCI-277
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 15-year-old boy in July.
On July 19, 2023, the man armed himself with a knife and attempted to break into an apartment near Jane Street and Finch Avenue West. The youth refused demands by police that he drop the knife. The boy was grounded by an officer and was punched six times before he was handcuffed. He was taken to hospital and diagnosed with jaw fractures. Director Martino accepted that one or more of the punches struck by the subject official was responsible for the youth’s injuries, but was unable to conclude with any confidence that the officer comported himself other than within the limits of the criminal law throughout their engagement.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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