News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Broken Foot After Arrest by Toronto Police Officers
Case Number: 23-TCI-508
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 of a 41-year-old man. On December 12, 2023, police received a call about the man after he reportedly threatened a person with a shotgun.
Officers obtained a search warrant and entered the residence near Wellesley Street East and Parliament Street. The man was located and an officer grabbed him, taking him to the floor. He was handcuffed and taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken right foot.
Director Martino was satisfied that the force brought to bear by the officer in aid of the man’s arrest was legally justified. He found it unfortunate that the man was injured, but he suggested it probably more to do with items scattered on the balcony floor than the grounding itself. Also, the body worn camera footage established the takedown was not performed with undue force.
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