Toronto police are being accused of getting in the way of an SIU investigation but a spokesperson for the service says he is “confused” by the claims.
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit said Wednesday that it has closed a probe into allegations that a Toronto police officer beat a civilian. SIU director Ian Scott said the Toronto Police Service has refused to hand over the statement made by the civilian.
Scott called the situation “almost comical,” suggesting the TPS has violated its duty to co-operate with the provincial watchdog agency.
The statement given by 27-year-old civilian Tyrone Phillips was filed on Aug. 8 with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director. The statement says he was beaten unconscious in an altercation with police on July 28, outside a nightclub.
The OIPRD forwarded the complaint to police on Sept. 19. Less than a month later, on Oct. 12, the police forwarded the complaint to the SIU -- an arm’s length agency tasked with reviewing all incidents where civilians are seriously injured, assaulted or killed while in the presence of police.
Toronto police communications director Mark Pugash spoke to CP24 Wednesday afternoon, saying the SIU was mistaken in their claim because the document belongs to the OIRPD, not the TPS.
“Mr. Scott is wrong. What he said is absolutely wrong,” he said. “It’s not our document, we can’t give away something that belongs to someone else. They are the only ones who can give it away.”
No one at the OIPRD has commented on the situation.
Pugash said Scott should know the process.
“I’m puzzled as to why he brought the Toronto Police Service into it. This is between the SIU and the OIPRD. We were very surprised to see the press release. He knows how it works.”
With files from The Canadian Press.
@SandieBenitah is on Twitter. For instant breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.
