Ontario's police watchdog has ruled that no criminal offence was committed by a Peel Regional Police officer in connection with the death of an 18-year-old man who fell from a height at Square One shopping centre in Mississauga.
The Incident at Square One
The incident, which resulted in the young man's death, occurred in 2025. The province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was immediately notified and assumed control of the case, as is standard procedure for incidents involving police that result in serious injury or death.
The SIU is an independent civilian agency that investigates the conduct of police officers in Ontario. Its mandate is to maintain public confidence in law enforcement by ensuring transparent and impartial investigations when police actions may have caused harm.
Investigation Findings and Conclusion
After a thorough investigation, the SIU director, Joseph Martino, determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officer committed a criminal offence. The director's report concluded that the officer's actions did not breach the limits of care prescribed by criminal law.
The investigation involved the review of evidence, which included statements from witnesses and the examination of the scene at the large Mississauga mall. The SIU's mandate is strictly limited to assessing whether a criminal offence took place; it does not make findings on potential policy breaches or conduct matters, which fall under other police oversight bodies.
Context and Aftermath
The clearing of the officer brings a formal conclusion to the SIU's file on this tragic event. The identity of the 18-year-old man has not been publicly released by the agency.
This case underscores the difficult and often tragic circumstances police officers can encounter. The SIU's role is to provide civilian oversight and ensure accountability, and its finding of no criminality means the evidence did not support proceeding with charges in this instance.
The ruling was officially released on January 2, 2026. The SIU encourages anyone who may have further information about its investigations to come forward.
