A Toronto Police officer has been cleared of wrongdoing after a man suffered a fractured sternum when he was struck by bean bag rounds during an arrest at a Scarborough hospital earlier this year, Ontario\u2019s police watchdog says.<\/p>\n
In a report dated Oct. 9, Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Director Joseph Martino said there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident.<\/p>\n
The SIU launched an investigation following a June 14 arrest at Scarborough Centenary Hospital, located at 2867 Ellesmere Rd., which resulted in the man sustaining a serious injury.<\/p>\n
According to the report, officers were called to the hospital shortly after 10:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a man allegedly threatening people with a knife or scissors.<\/p>\n
Investigators say a 26-year-old man had entered the hospital carrying a fork and followed a physician while holding the object.<\/p>\n
Hospital security approached the man and repeatedly urged him to put down the fork, but he refused and continued waving it toward security personnel.<\/p>\n
The SIU says video evidence showed two officers arriving at the hospital lobby around 10:36 a.m., with one carrying a less-lethal shotgun loaded with bean bag rounds.<\/p>\n
As a security guard attempted to restrain the man from behind, an officer fired a bean bag round, striking him. A second round was discharged shortly afterward while the man was on the ground.<\/p>\n
Despite repeated commands to drop the fork, the man continued holding it and threw objects toward officers.<\/p>\n
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Shortly after, another officer deployed a conducted energy weapon, causing the man to fall forward and allowing officers to take him into custody.<\/p>\n
He was subsequently treated at the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a fractured sternum.<\/p>\n
In his decision, Martino concluded the officer\u2019s use of force was reasonably necessary given the circumstances, including the potential threat to hospital staff, patients and others nearby.<\/p>\n
He noted that the officer had chosen a less-lethal weapon and was responding to a situation involving an armed individual in a hospital.<\/p>\n
Although the investigation determined that at least one bean bag round caused the man\u2019s injury, Martino found no grounds to proceed with criminal charges.<\/p>\n
The case is now closed. <\/p>\n