Toronto cops cleared by SIU in fatal balcony fall investigation in Etobicoke

Toronto Police officers who spoke with a 43-year-old man moments before he fell from his apartment balcony in Etobicoke this past summer have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

Joseph Martino, director of Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit, said in a news release Saturday that he found “no reasonable grounds” to believe any Toronto Police officers committed a criminal offence related to the man’s death that took place on July 14 at an apartment in the Dundas Street West and Kipling Avenue area.

The SIU, Ontario’s civilian agency responsible for investigating police interactions that result in serious injury or death, initiated an investigation after Toronto Police Service officers were called to the apartment building at about 11:30 a.m.

Responding to a report from a concerned family member unable to reach the man, officers arrived and attempted to communicate with him through his apartment door.

The SIU reported that, after an initial exchange, communication ceased and shortly afterward, the man fell from the balcony.

In his ruling, Martino stated he was satisfied that the officers conducted themselves appropriately, noting no reasonable grounds to suggest criminal conduct in the officers’ actions leading up to the man’s fall.

Three SIU investigators and two forensic investigators were assigned to the case, which concluded with no charges being laid against the officers involved in the response.