SIU clears officer after Scarborough pursuit that left 14-year-old with serious injury
The SIU found no grounds to charge an officer who pursued a stolen Honda in Scarborough on Sept. 21. A 14-year-old driver was seriously injured and taken to hospital.
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By Torontoer Staff
The Special Investigations Unit has concluded there are no reasonable grounds to believe a police officer committed a criminal offence during a pursuit of a stolen vehicle in Scarborough on Sept. 21, the agency said Thursday. The pursuit ended when the stolen car, driven by a 14-year-old, entered an intersection and collided with another vehicle.
The teen was arrested and taken to hospital with what the SIU described as a brain bleed. The occupants of the other vehicle were not seriously hurt, the watchdog said.
What happened
Shortly before 1 a.m. on Sept. 21, an officer in Scarborough observed a speeding, stolen Honda Civic being driven by a 14-year-old male, the SIU said in a news release. The officer activated the cruiser’s lights and siren and initiated a pursuit when the Civic accelerated and failed to stop.
The Civic entered an intersection against a red light and was struck by another vehicle, according to the SIU. The officer arrived at the scene a few seconds later and provided assistance to those involved in the collision before investigators took custody of the scene.
Toronto police said the crash occurred near Lawrence Avenue East and Kingston Road in the West Hill neighbourhood. The service posted the initial notice on X and the SIU said it invoked its mandate about two hours after the incident.
SIU finding
Joseph Martino, director of the SIU, reviewed the available evidence and determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the collision. The SIU reached that conclusion following its investigation of the pursuit and the crash.
There were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the collision.
Joseph Martino, director, SIU
The watchdog’s release noted some discrepancies between early police postings and information collected by SIU investigators. Toronto police initially indicated three vehicles were involved in the crash; the SIU said its information pointed to two vehicles. The SIU also said there were three occupants in the other vehicle.
Injuries, arrests and response
Police arrested the 14-year-old at the scene and transported him to hospital. Medical staff diagnosed a brain bleed, a serious injury that triggered the SIU’s mandate. The SIU’s involvement followed the agency’s policy to investigate incidents that result in death or serious injury when police conduct may have been a factor.
The officer who initiated the pursuit rendered aid on arrival and remained at the scene for the SIU investigation. The SIU did not indicate any criminal charges against the officer and said the occupants of the other vehicle were not seriously hurt.
- Date and time: Just before 1 a.m., Sept. 21
- Location: Lawrence Avenue East and Kingston Road, Scarborough (West Hill)
- Vehicle: Stolen Honda Civic, driven by a 14-year-old
- Outcome: Civic entered intersection against red light, struck another vehicle
- Injuries: 14-year-old diagnosed with a brain bleed; other vehicle occupants not seriously hurt
- SIU conclusion: No reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the officer
About the SIU
The Special Investigations Unit is an independent provincial agency that investigates the conduct of officials from municipal, regional and provincial police services when their actions may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault or the discharge of a firearm at a person. Its mandate requires independent review of incidents where serious harm occurs in the course of police interactions.
In this case, the SIU reviewed the officer’s decision to pursue, the progression of the pursuit, and the circumstances of the collision before deciding there were no reasonable grounds for criminal charges. The agency’s findings do not preclude agency-level reviews or internal police policy assessments.
The SIU’s decision closes the criminal investigation into the officer’s conduct. The collision remains the subject of public interest because of the injuries involved and the involvement of a youth in a stolen vehicle.
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