News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man’s Injuries from Balcony Fall in Toronto
Case Number: 23-TCI-326
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into multiple fractures suffered by a 25-year-old man after he fell from a fifth-floor balcony while attempting to flee Toronto Police Service officers in August.
Based on preliminary inquiries, including an interview with the man and video footage that captured the incident in parts, on August 14, 2023, police received word that the man, wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant, was a guest at an apartment on High Park Avenue. They sought permission to enter, but the tenant declined. Officers waited outside the front door while considering their options, including applying for a Feeney warrant to force entry. Just before the leaseholder of the apartment arrived on scene and entered the unit, the man attempted to scale down the balcony and fell to the ground below. None of the officers had entered the apartment or interacted with the man prior to his fall. On this record, aside from setting the stage for the man’s attempt to flee, Director Martino concluded that it was apparent none of the officers on scene contributed to the fall in any manner that could attract criminal sanction.
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