News Release
SIU Discontinues Toronto Investigation
Case Number: 19-TCI-212
The Interim Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the arrest of a 42-year-old man earlier this month in Toronto.
In the early morning hours of September 5, 2019, Toronto Police Service officers observed the man in the area of Pearson Avenue and Sorauren Avenue. The man fled, but a short distance away, he tripped and fell. The man was arrested and subsequently transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured right hand.
Interim Director Martino said, “As it is apparent on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries – which included a review of medical records – that his injury pre-dated his arrest and had nothing to do with police officers, the SIU is without jurisdiction to proceed with an investigation. Consequently, the investigation is hereby discontinued, and the file is closed.”
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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