News Release
SIU Closes Investigation into Man’s Self-Inflicted Death in Toronto
Case Number: 25-TCD-141
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the self-inflicted death of a 56-year-old man in Toronto.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including a review of video footage that captured the incident, on April 14, 2025, Toronto Police Service officers responded to a mental health crisis call at a condo unit in the area of Alton Towers Circle in Scarborough. Officers knocked on the door to the unit, tried to gain access and attempted to call the man. While waiting in the hall, they heard breaking glass inside. Officers breached the door, located the man positioned on the outside of the window and he jumped.
Director Martino found that tragically the man was experiencing severe mental health distress at the time and engaged in an act of intentional self-harm that resulted in his death. Due to the rapid progression of events, he found there was no reasonable opportunity to intervene or prevent the outcome. On this record, it was evident that the police officers did nothing that could conceivably attract criminal liability in connection with the unfortunate death of the man.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES