Watchdog Clears Toronto Police in High-Rise Fall Death

A logo at the Toronto Police Service headquarters in Toronto in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov

Toronto police have been cleared by Ontario’s police watchdog in the death of a man who fell from a balcony after officers responded to a domestic assault call at his residence.

The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) initially launched an investigation on Jan. 1 following the death of a 27-year-old man who fell from a height while Toronto Police Service officers were in the area, according to a news release from the watchdog.

Police were called to an apartment building near Jane Street and Highway 401 at about 11:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2025, to investigate a domestic violence incident. As officers attempted to locate and arrest a man inside a unit, he was later found on the ground below. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, the SIU said.

According to the investigation report, police were responding after a woman called from a neighbouring apartment. When officers arrived, they found the woman with a black eye, choke marks on her neck, and cuts to the palms of her hands. She told officers the alleged assailant was still in the apartment where the assault had occurred.

Three officers knocked on the apartment door but there was no response. Minutes later, just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, Toronto Community Housing Corporation staff provided a key and police entered the unit. The report says there was blood around the door and throughout the apartment. Officers then went to the balcony, looked over, and observed the man on the ground below.

In line with standard practice, the SIU was notified, and investigators arrived on scene at about 4:20 a.m.

Pursuant to section 15 of the SIU Act, the watchdog may investigate police conduct that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

SIU Director Joseph Martino found no reasonable grounds to charge Toronto police in connection with the Dec. 31, 2025, fatal fall, according to an update issued May 1.

The SIU said one civilian witness was interviewed on Jan. 1, 2026, while none of the three witnessing officers were interviewed, as it was deemed unnecessary.

The SIU typically investigates between 400 and 550 incidents annually, according to its most recent reports. In 2024–25, it received 539 cases and conducted 361 full investigations. Most involve serious incidents such as deaths or serious injuries in police custody, police shootings, and allegations of sexual assault involving officers.

Despite the volume of cases, only a small fraction result in criminal charges. In 2024–25, 18 officers were charged across 17 cases—roughly 4 to 5 percent of investigations—while most files conclude with no charges after the SIU determines the legal threshold for reasonable grounds is not met. Over recent years, the charge rate has generally remained between 2 and 5 percent annually.