News Release

News Release

SIU Charges Toronto Police Officers in Relation to Discharge of Firearms

Case Number: 23-TFI-222   

Other News Releases Related to Case 23-TFI-222

SIU Investigating Discharge of Firearms by Officers in Toronto

Mississauga, ON (15 February, 2024) ---
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has reasonable grounds to believe that two Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers committed criminal offences in relation to a shooting in June 2023.

The SIU investigation found that around noon on June 11, 2023, TPS officers were in the area of College Street and Dufferin Street when they located a Cadillac that had reportedly been stolen. An interaction ensued with the vehicle occupants – a 26-year-old man and a 45-year-old man – and two officers discharged their firearms in the direction of the men inside the Cadillac. The Cadillac fled the scene but came to a stop after striking a pole. Both vehicle occupants were arrested. The 26-year-old man was transported to hospital for treatment of injuries.

As a result of the SIU investigation, Cst Jamie Denysek and Cst Derek MacNeil are facing the following charges under the Criminal Code: 
  • One count of assault with a weapon contrary to section 267(a); 
  • One count of careless use of a firearm contrary to section 86(1); and 
  • One count of discharge of a firearm with intent to wound, maim, disfigure or endanger life contrary to section 244.

The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 10 Armoury Street in Toronto on March 12, 2024, at 11 a.m.

As the matter is before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will not provide further comment on the investigation.  

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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES