News Release
SIU Terminates Investigation as Man’s Broken Ribs Happened Days Before Toronto Arrest
Case Number: 25-TCI-061
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into the serious injury of a 63-year-old man.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, including an interview with the man and video footage that captured the incident in part, the man was arrested in the early morning hours of February 14, 2025, following a call from a streetcar driver about a disorderly passenger. During a search at 51 Division, the man became combative and was taken to the ground by police officers. The man complained of pain to his ribs and was transported to the hospital, where he was found to have some dated rib fractures and a possible sternal fracture.
Evidence showed the man been assaulted four days prior and sustained a left seventh rib fracture. On this record it was apparent no officer was responsible for his injury, leaving nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer. 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