SIU Lays Assault Charges against Three Toronto Police Officers
Case Number: 15-TCI-174
Appeals Form
Mississauga, ON (11 October, 2016) —
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has caused charges to be laid against three Toronto Police Service officers in relation to a February 2013 arrest.
The SIU learned of the incident in August of 2015 and immediately commenced an investigation. The SIU investigation found the following:
- In the evening hours of February 13, 2013, officers arrested a 46-year-old man at his home and placed him in the back of a police cruiser.
- While transporting the man to the police station, there was an interaction between the man and three officers.
- The man was taken to the Humber River Regional Hospital for examination, and it was later determined that he suffered a serious injury.
As a result of the SIU investigation, Constable John Darnell, Constable Piara Dhaliwal, and Constable Adam Morris are now charged with assault causing bodily harm, contrary to s. 267(b) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
The officers are required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 1000 Finch Avenue West in Toronto on November 3, 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.