News Release
Man Broke Foot after Jumping Over Railing; SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 24-TCI-347
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury suffered by a 44-year-old man in August in Toronto.
In the evening of August 17, 2024, the man attended at the Scott Mission on Spadina Avenue to receive a meal. When he observed police officers in the lobby of the building, he fled to escape apprehension as he was subject to a bench warrant. Officers chased the man on foot as he made his way into a University of Toronto building on Willcocks Avenue. The officers came upon the man in the basement of the building and took him into custody. The man was transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken right foot.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including the review of video footage that captured the incident in parts, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued. On this record, it was plain and obvious that the officers were not criminally responsible for the man’s injury. The man suffered the injury when he jumped over a railing to the basement below, He was the sole author of his misfortune. 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES