News Release

News Release

Force Used by Officers in Toronto Arrest Lawful; No Grounds to Lay Criminal Charges

Case Number: 26-TCI-211   

Mississauga, ON (9 September, 2026) ---
In the afternoon of May 12, 2026, a 37-year-old man was seated on a park bench in Toronto with another male when he was confronted by three Toronto Police Service bicycle officers. The officers approached after having observed what they believed was a drug transaction between the two individuals. One of the officers told the man he was under arrest. The man dropped a small pink plastic baggie behind his back to the ground below.  When the officer grabbed the man’s hand, the man stood and attempted to run away.  He had only taken a stride or two before he lost his footing and fell backwards. The man was arrested. He later attended hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured right wrist. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the man’s arrest and injury.
     
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.

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.

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