SIU issues correction after misgendering trans victim

Black woman died after police arrested her and brought her to hospital

The Special Investigations Unit issued a correction l ate Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging that a 30-year-old who died in police custody last week was a trans woman.

The statement came a day after a local community group demanded the police watchdog reveal the circumstances behind her death and correct its misgendering of the victim.

“Last week, an organization that services LGBTQ2S communities contacted the SIU and informed that the individual identified as a woman,” the police watchdog, which investigates allegations of serious injury, death or alleged sexual assault involving police, said in a statement.

“In an abundance of caution, the SIU made attempts to confirm this information with the deceased’s next of kin. Investigators were finally able to connect with the family this afternoon and the Unit can now confirm that the deceased in this case is a trans woman. At the request of family, the woman’s name is not being released at this time.”

On Tuesday, the 519, based in the Gay Village, released a statement calling for transparency from Toronto police at 43 Division and the SIU surrounding the death of a Black trans woman.

“Though neither the (Toronto Police Service) nor the SIU has released the name of the person who died or any information related to what caused their death, we have received information that confirms that the individual involved was a much loved 30-year-old Black trans woman,” the statement reads.

The organization said it would not disclose the victim’s name, out of respect for grieving family and friends who may not know the details of her death.

The SIU originally stated a 30year-old man had died after being detained by Toronto police officers under the Mental Health Act on Oct. 26.

Police responded to a 911call at a Scarborough apartment at about 7 a.m., the SIU said in a statement. Officers found a person had self-barricaded in the unit, the SIU said.

Police apprehended the person under the Mental Health Act and took them to the hospital, it said. The person “went into medical distress” and and was pronounced dead at 10:15 a.m. after revival attempts by hospital staff.

Earlier that day, police said officers responded to a call about a break-in, but determined none had occurred. Police said they found the person to be “in crisis.”

A week after informing the SIU of the victim’s gender, the 519 demanded police and the SIU “uphold their responsibility for transparency and accountability, and provide the public with more information about the circumstances.”

“Silence, in the face of such loss, only serves to cause greater harm,” the organization said.

The 519 called on the community to pressure the SIU and Toronto police to issue a correction and disclose more information. “Time and time again, members within the LGBTQ2S community, particularly BIPOC queer, trans and two-spirit communities, are let down by the organizations that are mandated to serve and protect.”

The police watchdog said it continues to investigate the woman’s death.

“The SIU appreciates the public interest in this case and is doing what it can to get answers to the public as quickly as possible,” it said. “We ask for the public’s continued patience.”