News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Man Diagnosed with Broken Nose After Arrest by Toronto Police Officers
Case Number: 23-TCI-515
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 a broken nose suffered by a 28-year-old man. On December 16, 2023, officers attempted to arrest the man as he fit the description of a man who reportedly committed an armed robbery. The man resisted and punched at officers, with officers punching the man in return. It remained unclear how the man broke his nose. Director Martino noted that there was evidence the injury was self-inflicted when he slammed his head into a wall at the hospital.
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