No charges in woman’s ‘tragic’ death

SIU says police not at fault after 60-year-old woman jumped from house terrace last year

Ontario’s civilian police watchdog has determined no charges will be laid against any Toronto police officers stemming from the death of a 60-yearold woman last year.

Amleset Haile died after jumping off the third-floor terrace on St. Clarens Ave. on Jan. 2, 2017, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has determined.

Police had been summoned to the house in the early morning hours by a 911 call from one of Haile’s friends, reporting that Haile may do harm to herself. Five officers responded within minutes of the call, alongside paramedics, but were unable to find Haile.

While they searched for her in the backyard, Haile jumped from the terrace, landing in the alley between two homes, according to a summary of the investigation released Wednesday.

She was taken to a hospital, where she died.

SIU director Tony Loparco said in the summary that watchdog investigators found “nothing that any of the police officers said or did provoked (Haile) to jump to her death.”

“It appears from all of the evidence that (Haile) was determined to end her life and no amount of police intervention was going to change her mind,” Loparco wrote.

Her many friends held a memorial for her at Sistering, which supports homeless and low-income women, and where Haile was a beloved longtime member. If you are considering suicide, there is help. Find a list of local crisis centres at the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. Or call 911 or in Ontario call Telehealth at 1-866797-0000. Wendy Gillis can be reached at wgillis@thestar.ca