News Release
SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation as Medical Records Contained no Indication of Serious Injury
Case Number: 24-TCI-287
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the August 2023 arrest of a 37-year-old man by Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers. The SIU became aware of the incident on July 3, 2024, upon being notified by the man.
On August 5, 2023, a woman called police to report that her ex-boyfriend had threatened her with a firearm. TPS officers located the man in the area of Coxwell Avenue and Felstead Avenue and arrested him. When the man advised he had a pre-existing medical condition, he was taken to hospital. The man later alleged that because of the arrest, he suffered a fractured vertebra, concussion and vision damage.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, Director Martino was satisfied the investigation should be discontinued at this time. The man’s medical records contained no indication of fracture or concussion. As for the vision impairment, a diagnosis of a medical condition seems to be the cause. On this record, there being no indication of any ‘serious injury’ within the mandate of the SIU, the unit was without jurisdiction to investigate the incident. The file has been closed.
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