Family of man shot and killed by Toronto police say officers used ‘unnecessary force’ – Toronto | 24CA News
The household of Andrew Geisler remains to be reeling after he was shot and killed by police in a Scarborough strip mall.
“It was an unnecessary use of force, I don’t understand why he got shot twice. I don’t understand why they didn’t use a taser first,” mentioned Lesley Geisler, Andrew’s older sister.
It’s a query that many within the Geisler household have been pondering since Andrew was shot and killed final Wednesday by Toronto Police Services (TPS). Police have been referred to as to the Shoppers World Danforth plaza round midday, the place Geisler was allegedly armed with a knife.
An eyewitness advised Global News that the officer commanded Geisler to drop the weapon, however after Geisler superior, he shot and killed him.
“He went for the kill shot. He could’ve hit him in the arm, he could’ve hit in the leg, he could’ve tasered him — there were other options,” Lesley mentioned.
As with any officer-involved taking pictures, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate. Global News contacted TPS, who mentioned they may not converse because the SIU is probing it.
The SIU mentioned they’ve recovered video proof, the officer’s gun, and the knife wielded by Geisler, and have 5 witnesses to talk to. While the Geisler household seeks solutions, the SIU mentioned they may not verify a timeline for its report however ensured they might do a radical investigation.
And whereas the Geislers are grieving a son and brother, they’re urging Toronto police to re-evaluate how they work together with folks in psychological misery.
“Police officers, I don’t think they are trained enough on people going through distress,” she mentioned. “I would really like to challenge the police of chief on how they deploy their firearms.”
‘A kind and gentle soul’
Andrew had struggled with alcoholism for the higher a part of 12 years, based on Lesley. He was a former ironworker, and as soon as he moved away from dwelling, Lesley mentioned he went down a harmful path.
“He lived with my dad for a while; when he lived alone, he started drinking heavily,” he mentioned. “Anytime he was alone, he was drinking.”
Throughout his battle together with his demons and psychological well being challenges, Andrew had the assist of his household, and tried many instances to get clear.
“He went to a treatment centre for several weeks and came out a different man,” she mentioned.
But Lesley mentioned they may by no means deal with the foundation reason for his alcoholism, which led Andrew to relapse and fall right into a vicious cycle.
“Waitlists were long or full, and if you didn’t have 20 or 30 thousand, you were screwed,” she mentioned.
Lesley mentioned the household typically tried to get Andrew assist, however would discover themselves preventing an uphill battle with a system that didn’t have assets to assist all of the weak folks.
“I think they’re working with the best with what they have, but they just don’t have the funding, there’s not enough help. The mental health crisis is so bad, they’re so overwhelmed,” she mentioned.
Andrew was typically transient through the previous dozen years however had been dwelling in Scarborough for a short time with a girlfriend. Lesley mentioned she thought he was going to his different sister’s dwelling on the day of his loss of life to get assist.
“When they told me the location, I immediately thought he was trying to get to my sister for help. She lived right there,” she mentioned.
Lesley had spoken with Andrew the times main as much as his loss of life and mentioned that he advised her of the “bad place” he was in, and that he was on the lookout for assist.
“It was heart-wrenching. I wish I could’ve been there,” she mentioned.
At numerous factors within the interview, Lesley mentioned she was nonetheless shocked by the police officer’s response to somebody she mentioned was struggling.
“It was a horrible reaction to someone in mental distress. This was not a calm, collected way of dealing with someone. I would say he killed him,” she mentioned.
When remembering Andrew, Lesley mentioned that her brother was not a violent particular person and “wouldn’t hurt a soul” and as a substitute was trying to trigger himself ache.
“You might not be able to help them, but having their love and support behind them at all times is so important,” she mentioned.
Lesley advised Global News her household is contemplating authorized motion in opposition to the Toronto Police Service.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
