Police watchdog clears Toronto cops in man's fall from 4th-storey window

Ontario's police watchdog has cleared two Toronto officers of any potential criminal wrongdoing after a 37-year-old man in mental distress was badly injured in a fall from a fourth-storey window in the city's west end earlier this summer.

Joseph Martino, director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), said in a report Friday the officers "comported themselves with due care and regard" in their interaction with the man and did what they could to prevent his fall.

The officers were dispatched to a mid-rise building near the corner of Springhurst and Spencer avenues in Little Tibet on the morning of June 1. The man's neighbour had called police and reported he was in the midst of a mental health crisis that had been going on for several hours,Martino said in his report.

Body-worn camera video from the officers showed that when theyarrived, the man let them into his residence, the report notes. Shortly after, he made his way to a window andopened it before quickly tuckinghis left leg, upper torso and head out.

Both officers attempted to stop him from falling entirely out of the window by grabbing his right leg, the report said.

"The man, now hanging upside down, fought against the officers' efforts to prevent him falling. He kicked, scratched and clawed at the officers. The officers eventually lost their grip and the man fell multiple floors," Martino said in a summary of his findings.

"Though the officers were unable to prevent the fall, it was not from a want of any effort on their part," the report continued.

The man fell to a grassy area below, suffering multiple pelvic fractures. He was taken to St. Michael's Hospital, where he refused treatment. The man was eventually "formed under the Mental Health Act," Martino said, meaning he was given an emergency psychiatric assessment without his consent.

The report noted the man had previously been admitted to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Healthfor treatment.

Martino's investigation included interviews with the twoofficers present in the apartment, who also provided their notes from that day to the SIU. Martino also interviewed a third officer, whosaw part of the incident from ground level, and seven civilian witnesses.