SIU investigating after man seriously injured during interaction with Toronto police
The province’s police watchdog is investigating after a man was seriously injured during an interaction with Toronto police on Saturday.
According to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), officers were making an arrest at around 7 p.m. in the area of Victoria Street Lane and Dundas Street East, near Yonge Street, when a “third party” was injured.
The man was taken to hospital for treatment and diagnosed with a serious injury, the SIU said.
Police have not released any information about the interaction or said why officers were initiating an arrest in the area at the time.
“The SIU is currently investigating, and by law, we cannot comment further,” Toronto police said in an email to CP24 on Friday.
According to Toronto Police Association President Jon Reid, plainclothes officers were investigating "the sale and distribution of street level drugs" in the area when the incident occurred.
"While arresting a person for possession and trafficking of fentanyl, another person interfered with the actions of the police officers. When the man refused to leave, an altercation took place with another police officer. The man was taken to hospital. The Special Investigations Unit was contacted and invoked its mandate. The law prohibits us from providing any further comment about this incident," Reid said in an email to CP24.
"In general, aside from this case, we can say that members of the public should never interfere with police operations, including physically engaging with officers. Officers do not know the motive or intent of the person interfering, nor do they know if they are armed, under the influence, etc. We understand that watching someone get arrested can be upsetting; often there is a struggle."
He went on to say that officers are "trained to use the least amount of force necessary" but are "lawfully entitled to use force" required to keep all of those involved safe.
"If a person involves themselves in police operations, it creates an unpredictability in a situation that is already tense and volatile," he concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations made against him,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Families of Paul Bernardo's victims not allowed to attend parole hearing in person, lawyer says
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo have been barred from attending the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, according to the lawyer representing the loved ones of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.
Missing 4-month-old baby pronounced dead after 'suspicious incident' in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a 'suspicious incident' at a Midtown apartment building on Wednesday afternoon.
'They squandered 10 years of opportunity': Canada Post strike exposes longtime problems, expert says
Canada Post is at ‘death's door’ and won't survive if it doesn't dramatically transform its business, a professor who has studied the Crown corporation is warning as the postal workers' national strike drags on.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
'Bomb cyclone' batters B.C. coast with hurricane-force winds, downing trees onto roads and vehicles
Massive trees toppled onto roads, power lines and parked cars as hurricane-force winds battered the B.C. coast overnight during an intense “bomb cyclone” weather event.
EV battery manufacturer Northvolt faces major roadblocks
Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer Northvolt is fighting for its survival as Canadian taxpayer money and pension fund investments hang in the balance.
Canada closes embassy in Ukraine after U.S. receives information on 'potential significant air attack'
The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, located in Kyiv, has temporarily suspended in-person services after U.S. officials there warned they'd received information about a 'potential significant air attack,' cautioning citizens to shelter in place if they hear an air alert.
U.S. woman denied parole 30 years after drowning 2 sons by rolling car into South Carolina lake
A parole board decided unanimously Wednesday that Susan Smith should remain in prison 30 years after she killed her sons by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake while they were strapped in their car seats.