News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Arrest in Toronto
Case Number: 22-TCI-199
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe a Toronto Police Service (TPS) officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injuries suffered by a 34-year-old man in August.
In the evening of August 6, 2022, TPS officers were dispatched to the area of Dundas Street West and Yonge Street after multiple callers described a male who appeared to be in crisis. He was carrying weapons and acting erratically, and had threatened persons and damaged property. Officers on scene repeatedly told the man to put down his weapons. The man did not do so. As the man turned to face an officer to his left, another officer rushed the man from several metres away and tackled him to the ground. The back of the man’s head struck the roadway, and possibly even the metal streetcar tracks in the area. Within seconds, the officers turned the man over and handcuffed him behind the back. He was taken from the scene in ambulance to hospital. He was diagnosed with a skull fracture and epidural hemorrhage.
While it was regrettable that the man was seriously injured in the process of the takedown, Director Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the injuries were attributable to unlawful conduct on the part of the officer. There was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges and the file has been closed.
Full Director's Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=2211
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