News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Serious Injury During Arrest in Toronto
Case Number: 23-TCI-306
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 arrest and serious injury suffered by a 60-year-old man in August.
On August 1, 2023, officers executed a search warrant to enter the apartment of the man, near Broadview Avenue and Danforth Avenue, to arrest him for shooting a woman the day prior. As the officers entered, they were confronted by the man and he tried to grab an officer’s firearm. An officer punched the man twice and, together with the subject official, forced the man down. There was a struggle, during which the man was kicked once or twice before his arms were controlled and he was handcuffed. Following his arrest, the man was taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a dislocated and fractured left shoulder.
Director Martino accepted the man’s injury was caused during his arrest; however, he was unable to reasonably conclude it was because of any unlawful conduct by the officers involved.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES