Toronto police officer charged in death of Brampton teen Chadd Facey

A Toronto police officer faces charges in connection with the death of Brampton teen Chad Facey.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) announced today (Feb. 10) that one officer will face manslaughter and aggravated assault charges in connection with Facey’s death.

The charges come after two off-duty Toronto Police constables reportedly went to Brampton on April 26, 2021 to meet Facey about an ad posted to Kijiji for the sale of an Apple Watch.

The police officers allegedly began pursuing the teen by car and then on foot when they realized the watch was counterfeit.

One officer allegedly took Facey down to the ground and held him.

Later that day, Facey was with a friend who noticed the teen “appeared unwell.”

Facey was taken to Brampton Civic Hospital where he died just a few hours later.

The Director of the SIU, Joseph Martino, said there are reasonable grounds to believe that a Toronto Police Service officer, while off-duty at the time, committed criminal offences in connection with Facey in April of 2021.

Constable Calvin Au is charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault, contrary to sections 236(b) and 268 of the Criminal Code, respectively, the SIU said.

Au is required to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at 7755 Hurontario Street in Brampton on March 2.

The SIU declined to provide further information on the case as the matter is before the courts.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as 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.