A Toronto police officer has been charged with assault following an investigation by the province's watchdog organization.

The Special Investigations Unit says a 36-year-old constable is charged in connection with an incident on May 5.

The SIU says officers saw a man in the middle of a downtown street around 5 p.m. and approached him.

It says there was an interaction and shortly afterwards, the man was taken to hospital by ambulance and diagnosed with a serious injury.

The officer is set to appear in court on Oct. 31 on a charge of assault causing bodily harm.