A Peel Regional Police officer has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in the death of a 34-year-old Brampton man who was experiencing a mental health crisis last year, according to a decision by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
The SIU’s investigation concluded that there were “no reasonable grounds” to hold the officer accountable for the man’s death.
“The officer was lawfully carrying out his duties when he responded to the call and attempted to take the man into custody under the Mental Health Act,” stated SIU Director Joseph Martino in his written decision. “The information provided through the 911 call, along with what the officer personally gathered from speaking with two witnesses, led to a reasonable belief that the man was in a mental health crisis and needed to be apprehended under section 17 of the Act.”
Director Martino also addressed the use of force during the arrest, where the officer used his knee to restrain the man while handcuffing him. “I am unable to reasonably conclude that this action was unjustified,” Martino noted.
On April 2, 2023, officers were dispatched to an apartment near Kennedy Road North and Vodden Street East following reports of a man in distress due to a mental health crisis. The man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act by officers at the scene.
During the arrest, the officer used his knee to hold the man on the floor while attempting to secure his hands behind his back. Paramedics were called, and officers provided chest compressions when the man’s condition worsened. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the man was pronounced dead upon arrival at Brampton Civic Hospital at 4:49 AM.
In his report, Director Martino emphasized that while the officer’s actions were subject to legitimate scrutiny, he could not reasonably determine that the force used was unjustified.
“The officer would have been aware that keeping an individual in the man’s condition in a prone position posed a risk and should have acted more swiftly to place him in a recovery position,” Martino wrote. “However, consideration must also be given to the fact that the officer had just endured a physical struggle with the man and was in the process of regaining his composure while also calling for paramedics. Given the circumstances, even if the officer should have acted more quickly, I am not reasonably convinced that his actions represented a marked departure from the standard of care expected.”
The incident highlights the complex and challenging situations that officers face when responding to mental health crises, underscoring the need for careful evaluation of their actions under such circumstances.