News Release
Former Toronto Police Service Officer Charged
Case Number: 07-TSA-072
Four SIU investigators probed an incident that occurred on April 14, 2007, in which a female complainant alleged that a TPS officer sexually assaulted her during the course of an arrest.
Having reviewed the evidence from the SIU investigation, Director Cornish concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Michael Carrington committed the criminal offences and caused the following charges to be laid:
- sexual assault, contrary to section 271 of the Criminal Code of Canada; and
- breach of trust, contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The SIU was notified that Mr. Carrington resigned from the TPS as of September 14, 2007. A summons has been issued requiring him to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on November 21, 2007, to answer to the charges. Justice Prosecutions of the Ministry of the Attorney General has carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of Mr. Carrington, the complainant and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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