News Release
Woman Injured Self While Trying to Evade Arrest; SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 23-TCI-272
Witness Assistance
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by woman in July in Toronto.
In the afternoon of July 17, 2023, Toronto Police Service officers attended an apartment building on Spadina Road after a tenant reported that a woman was at his residence in violation of a release order. When officers knocked on the door, the woman attempted to evade arrest by scaling from that apartment balcony to the balcony below. In the process, the woman fell, reportedly fracturing her ankles and back on impact with the ground.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. The officers did nothing to contribute to the woman’s misfortune, and her decision to climb over the balcony was hers alone. As there was patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was 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