SIU Discontinues Toronto Death Investigation
Case Number:
26-TCD-396
Mississauga, ON (26 October, 2026) ---
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into the death of a 64-year-old man in August in Toronto.
In the afternoon of August 23, 2026, the man was arrested for impaired operation of a conveyance after attempting to drive through a marked road closure at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Springhurst Avenue. He was transported to the detachment and escorted to the booking area. After requesting to use the restroom, he was assisted to the search room to change his clothing that had become soiled. When he did not respond to a knock on the search room door and verbal inquiry regarding his well-being, an officer entered the room and found him unresponsive and without a pulse. The officer immediately requested that the ambulance response be expedited, moved the man onto the floor, and commenced CPR. Officers continued life-saving measures until EMS arrived, assumed medical care, and transported the man to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, which included a review of video footage that captured the incident in parts, Deputy Director O’Brien was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. Officers provided emergency aid to the man, consistent with their duties and training. Nothing in the video evidence, or post-mortem examination established or suggested that the conduct of the police was negligent or in any way causally connected to the outcome. The available evidence was consistent with a medical crisis related to left lung pneumonia with empyema. The post-mortem examination identified no evidence of trauma. Although toxicology and other ancillary testing remain outstanding, the results are not expected to alter the preliminary findings regarding the cause of death. On this record, it was evident that the police officers did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal liability in connection with the unfortunate death of the man. The file is closed.
If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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
