News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Scarborough Shooting

Case Number: 07-TFI-194   

Mississauga (25 April, 2008) --- The Deputy Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers involved in the shooting of 21-year-old Corey Sonier last year committed any criminal offence.

Eight investigators and five forensic investigators were assigned to
probe the circumstances of this incident. The SIU investigation determined that on September 19, 2007, TPS officers pursued two men in a car that had earlier been involved in a robbery and a shooting at Winchester and Sumach Streets. The car collided with a guardrail at Ellesmere Road and Morningside Avenue. As the officers approached the car, the driver, Corey Sonier, raised a shotgun in the direction of the officers. Seven officers discharged their firearms and Mr. Sonier was struck in the head and arm.

Mr. Sonier was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital by ambulance. He was admitted for treatment and subsequently released in November 2007. Deputy Director Ian Scott said, "The TPS officers were involved in a high-risk takedown of two people who had been involved in a robbery where a firearm had been discharged. Mr. Sonier raised a shotgun in the direction of the officers. The officers responded by firing multiple rounds from their service pistols." Deputy Director Scott determined that, "The force used against Mr. Sonier was reasonably necessary for the purpose of protecting the
officers at the scene from imminent death or grievous bodily harm."

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
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES