New charge for officer accused of doing nothing to stop teen’s suicide Facebook

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A Toronto police officer accused of doing nothing to prevent the suicide of a 19-year-old man in High Park now faces a third charge: breach of trust by a public officer.

A man told CityNews he had gone to the park on the afternoon of Feb. 2 after his wife told him there was a young man looping a rope on a tree branch.

When the man arrived at the entrance to the park, he saw an officer, Const. Kyle Upjohn, and begged him for help. But Upjohn allegedly told the man to call 911 because he was busy on another call.

The man said he then ran to the tree and used a knife to cut the teen down. He tried CPR, but it was too late.

The Special Investigations Unit originally charged Upjohn with criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessaries of life. But on Thursday, they added a new charge of breach of trust by a public officer.

Upjohn failed to show up for his court appearance on Thursday to answer to the charges. The judge issued a discretionary bench warrant for his arrest if he doesn’t show up for his next court date in September.

Upjohn has been suspended with pay.

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