Toronto police cleared in struggle that ended in man's death
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 8, 2008 | 3:48 PM ET
CBC News
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit says Toronto police officers did not commit any criminal offence in connection with the death of Jasen Drnasin in November 2006.
Drnasin, 32, died after a violent confrontation on a bus near Royal York Road and Eglinton Avenue West.
TTC special constables used pepper foam in an attempt to control him, but were unable to subdue Drnasin.
A TTC employee who attempted to aid the special constables suffered a broken arm during the struggle.
The Croatian man was finally arrested by Toronto police officers, but went into medical distress and was transported to hospital in critical condition with severe brain swelling.
He died several hours later.
In releasing the report, James Cornish, the director of the Special Investigations Unit, called police actions "an entirely reasonable response to the situation facing the officers. In my view, the force used cannot be characterized as excessive or unwarranted. Mr. Drnasin's death cannot be attributed to unreasonable force used by the police."
Drnasin, who was born in Split, Croatia, was one of the first Croatians to graduate from the West Point Military Academy, in New York State, according to relatives.
"Whatever the precise cause of Mr. Drnasin's unfortunate death, there are no reasonable grounds in my view to believe the death resulted from a criminal offence committed by any of the involved officers," said Cornish.
