Toronto officer not charged after cyclist injured during May arrest, SIU says

Ontario’s police watchdog says a Toronto police officer will not face criminal charges after a cyclist was seriously injured during an arrest in May. In a report released Tuesday, Special Investigations Unit director Joseph Martino said the force used was within what was lawful in the circumstances. The arrest happened near Queens Quay West and Little Norway Crescent on May 31, when a 21yearold cyclist rode through a stop sign during targeted bicycle enforcement. According to the SIU, the cyclist allegedly swore at officers, tried to ride away, and was then stopped by police. The report says an officer made contact with the cyclist’s backpack, the bike went out of control, and the officer then brought him to the ground and held him there until other officers arrived. The cyclist later received tickets and sought medical care, including treatment for a mild traumatic brain injury. A lawyer for the cyclist said the report could encourage the use of force against cyclists for minor traffic offences and said the legal team plans to challenge the SIU findings and file a complaint against the officer.