News Release

News Release

SIU Discontinues Investigation into Woman Reportedly Injured by Toronto Police Officers

Case Number: 23-TCI-008   

Mississauga, ON (22 March, 2023) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the reported injury suffered by a 29-year-old woman in an interaction with Toronto Police Service officers in Scarborough.

Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of medical records, on January 4, 2023, paramedics and police officers arrived at a residence in the area of Morningside Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East following a 911 call for medical help. Once at the hospital, the woman was reportedly manhandled by the officers when she sought to leave.  That encounter resulted in a hematoma to her left upper thigh. The woman was eventually discharged from hospital having been diagnosed with somatoform disorder.  On this record, it would not appear that the woman suffered a ‘serious injury’ within the terms of the SIU’s mandate, leaving the SIU without statutory jurisdiction to investigate.

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