News Release
SIU Investigates Toronto Death
Case Number: 07-TCD-153
On July 29, 2007, at approximately 6:05 p.m., a man reported to the Toronto Police Service (TPS) that his girlfriend had left his home distraught and reportedly armed with a handgun. The police broadcast a description of the woman and the vehicle she was in. At approximately 7:57 p.m., plainclothes officers from 22 Division located the car, which was stopped in traffic, at Prince Edward Drive S and Bloor Street West. The officers boxed the woman's car in and exited their cruisers. When they approached the car, they found the woman suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to St. Michael's Hospital where she died.
A post mortem examination is scheduled for tomorrow.
Eight SIU investigators are probing what role, if any, the police played in this woman's death. Investigators are appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-1988 or 1-800-787-8529 x 1988.
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