News Release
Toronto Police Service Officers Charged
Case Number: 11-TCI-066
Mississauga (11 August, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has caused charges to be laid today against two Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers.
The TPS contacted the SIU on April 24, 2011 and reported that officers had earlier that day responded to an altercation involving Keith Ryan and a TPS Parking Enforcement Officer, Devon Henry. Mr. Ryan was arrested and transported to 14 Division. Later that same day, Mr. Ryan was taken to St. Michael’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with facial fractures.
As a result of the SIU investigation of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ryan’s injuries, Director Scott has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Ryan was assaulted while in police custody on the day in question by Constables Manpreet Kharbar and Paul Ramos. Each officer faces one charge of assault causing bodily harm contrary to section 267 (b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
On April 28, 2011, the TPS charged the Parking Enforcement Officer, Mr. Henry, with assault causing bodily harm in connection with the same incident. Mr. Henry is a civilian member of the TPS and, therefore, was not the focus of the SIU investigation.
The police officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall, 60 Queen Street West in Toronto on August 24, 2011. The Justice Prosecutions branch of the Ministry of the Attorney General will have carriage of the prosecution.
As this matter is now before the courts, and in consideration of the fair trial interests of the charged officers and the community, the SIU will make no further comment pertaining to this investigation.
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