A Toronto police officer has been charged after a man was seriously injured in an incident that involved the Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
According to the SIU, the incident occurred on March 30, 2021, when officers responded to a call about a man who was allegedly causing a disturbance at a residential building in the area of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue.
During the interaction, the man sustained serious injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. The SIU was notified and launched an investigation into the incident.
After reviewing the evidence, the SIU determined that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the officer involved had committed a criminal offense. As a result, Constable Michael Theriault has been charged with one count of assault causing bodily harm.
Theriault is scheduled to appear in court on May 7, 2021. The SIU has also stated that the officer’s brother, Christian Theriault, who was also present during the incident, will not be facing any charges.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates incidents involving police officers in Ontario that result in serious injury, death, or allegations of sexual assault. The agency is responsible for determining whether there are grounds to lay criminal charges against the officers involved.
This is not the first time Constable Michael Theriault has faced charges. In 2019, he was found guilty of assault and obstruction of justice in connection with a separate incident in which he and his brother were accused of beating a young Black man. The victim, Dafonte Miller, suffered serious injuries and lost an eye in the altercation.
The Toronto Police Service has stated that Constable Theriault has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of the SIU investigation. The service also added that they will be conducting an internal investigation into the incident.
The SIU has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with their ongoing investigation. They can be reached at 1-800-787-8529.
