Toronto Police Officer Charged with Criminal Negligence Causing Death and Failing to Provide the Necessaries of Life
Case Number: 16-TOD-029
Mississauga, ON (23 June, 2016) —
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit has caused two charges to be laid against a Toronto Police Service constable in relation to the death of a man earlier this year.
An SIU investigation found the following:
- Around 2:00 p.m., on February 2, 2016, a man sought the assistance of a police officer in regards to a suicide attempt by another man inside High Park in Toronto.
- The suicidal 19-year-old man was pronounced dead close to 3:30 p.m. that afternoon.
As a result of the SIU investigation, the Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has reasonable grounds to believe the police officer committed the criminal offences of criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Constable Kyle Upjohn is now facing a charge of criminal negligence causing death, contrary to s. 220(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada, and a charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life contrary to s. 215(2)(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The police officer is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at the Old City Hall Courthouse on August 4, 2016.
The matter is now properly before the courts. In consideration of the fair trial interests of the accused, the SIU will make no further comment.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid
- report the results of any investigations to the Attorney General.