News Release

News Release

Due to No Statement or Access to Medical Records, SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation

Case Number: 26-TCI-321   

Mississauga, ON (26 October, 2026) ---
The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Stacey O’Brien, has terminated an investigation into an interaction between police and a 28-year-old man in July in Toronto.

On the morning of July 14, 2026, a person reported to 911 that a man had breached a security fence and was sleeping on scaffolding at a site in the area of Ontario Street and Queen Street East. Upon arrival, officers determined that the man appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Officers attempted to verbally persuade him to descend from the scaffolding; however, those efforts were unsuccessful. A LL firearm and CEW were subsequently deployed, and the man was then taken into custody. He would be taken to hospital where he was reportedly diagnosed with a fractured finger. 

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Deputy Director O’Brien was satisfied that the investigation should be discontinued. Efforts to interview the man following the incident were unsuccessful. Representatives of the facility where he was receiving care advised that the man did not wish to participate in an interview. In the absence of a statement, and with no evidence available to substantiate the existence of a serious injury being identified within the mandate of the SIU, the unit was without jurisdiction to investigate the incident. The file has been 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