News Release
SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 23-TCI-373
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into a September interaction between a man and Toronto Police Service officers.
In the evening of September 10, 2023, Toronto Police Service officers were dispatched to a business in the area of Danforth Avenue and Greenwood Avenue following reports of an assault in progress. While all parties had left the scene upon the arrival of police, officers were able to locate one of the individuals who had been involved in the assault. The man fled on foot, and the officers gave chase. The man was taken into custody and placed in a cruiser. While seated in the cruiser, the man again ran from police. He was tackled to the ground and taken into custody. The police service contacted the SIU to report that the man had reportedly been diagnosed with a broken nose. In the course of his dealings with police, the man repeatedly accused them of having smashed his face.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. Aside from the tackle, the body-worn camera footage indicated that no force was brought to bear against the man by police. The tackle was no more than what was necessary to bring the man’s flight to an end. Repeated efforts by the SIU to reach the man for an interview were unsuccessful. On this record, there was an insufficient evidentiary foundation to continue with an investigation. 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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES