Toronto police officer charged after man seriously injured during downtown interaction

A Toronto Police Services logo is shown at headquarters, in Toronto, on Friday, August 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

A Toronto police officer has been charged after a 33-year-old man was seriously injured while an arrest was being made downtown last summer.

Special Investigations Unit Director Joseph Martino announced on Friday that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Det. Const. Christian Campoli committed a criminal offence during the Aug. 3 incident that happened near Victoria Street Lane and Dundas Street East.

Toronto police were making an arrest at the time when a third party was injured, the SIU said. He was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with serious injuries.

As a result of the SIU investigation, Det. Const. Campoli is facing one count of aggravated assault.

The SIU, an arm’s length agency called in to investigate whenever police are involved in a death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault, said it would not be providing further comment on their investigation as the matter is before the courts.

Police did not release details about the incident and what the arrest was about, saying that they cannot comment as the SIU invoked its mandate. However, Jon Reid, who was the president of the Toronto Police Association at the time, previously told CP24 that a man was being arrested for possession and trafficking of fentanyl when the third party interfered.

“When the man refused to leave, an altercation took place with another police officer,” Reid said.