Re: Jordan Lowe
ORB File No: 8048/8415
Hearing held on: Friday, August 15, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before: Alternate Chairperson: Mr. J. Goldenberg Members: Dr. P.E. Cook Dr. A. Park Mr. P. Capelle Ms. B. Little
Parties Appearing: Accused: Jordan Lowe Counsel: Mr. J. Halberstadt
The person in charge of hospital: Counsel: Ms. A. Marshall
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. V. Culp
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated September 25, 2025)
On March 3, 2022, Jordan Lowe was found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder on charges of possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering threats, and assaulting police officer with a weapon (x2). Subsequently, Mr. Lowe was also found not criminally responsible on a charge of sexual assault, and unlawfully in a dwelling house.
Mr. Lowe is currently subject to a Disposition of the Ontario Review Board dated June 18, 2024, by which he was directed to be detained at the Forensic Service of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto (“CAMH”).
On Friday, August 15, 2025, the Ontario Review Board convened a hearing at CAMH and conducted the annual review of Mr. Lowe’s Disposition.
Position of the Parties
At the outset of the hearing, the parties were canvassed as to their recommendations to the Board.
Ms. Marshall appeared for CAMH. She advised of the hospital’s position that Mr. Lowe remains a significant threat to public safety, and if the Board so finds, the hospital’s position is that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of a Detention Order with the terms set out in last year’s Disposition.
In response to a question from the Alternate Chair, Ms. Marshall advised, after speaking briefly with Dr. Benassi, that should the Board see fit to specify the level of security, in this case the hospital was recommending detention on a General Forensic Unit.
Ms. Culp appeared for the Attorney General. She supported the hospital’s recommendation.
Mr. Halberstadt appeared for Mr. Lowe. Mr. Lowe was not present at this hearing. The Board was aware that yesterday Mr. Lowe was discharged into the community at a residence known as 96 Dowling Street. At 9:30. Mr. Halberstadt was able to contact his client by telephone. His client thought the hearing was scheduled for 14:30. Nevertheless, his client gave instructions to Mr. Halberstadt to proceed in his absence. Under those circumstances, the Board permitted Mr. Lowe to be absent from this hearing pursuant to the provision of s. 672.5(10) of the Criminal Code. Mr. Halberstadt advised that his client agrees with the joint recommendation. Mr. Halberstadt acknowledged, in response to a question from the Alternate Chair, that he accepts that at the present time his client represents a significant threat to public safety and that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a Detention Order.
Index Offences
- “Count 1: Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose
Count 2: Utter Threat to Cause Death or Bodily Harm
Count 3: Assaulting Police Officer with a Weapon
Count 4: Assaulting Police Officer with Weapon
On Monday November 3, 2020, at 5h57am, the accused Jordan Lowe attended the parking lot of 21 Division Peel Regional Police located at 10 Peel Centre Drive. At this time, the accused brandished a 3-foot-long Samurai sword and approached 2 Peel Regional Police Officers while seated in their fully marked cruiser. The sword was unsheathed by the accused as he engaged the officers in an aggressive manner (count 1, 3 and 4).
As the accused approached the two officers he stated, “I am here to kill police officers” (count2).
The accused was subsequently arrested without incident and read his rights to counsel and caution all of which he indicated he understood. Due to the incoherent ramblings made by the accused it was believed he may have been on an illicit substance, and he was transported to the Brampton Civic Hospital where he will be held for further assessment and a phone bail hearing.
The offences that relate to the second NCR finding are sexual assault and being unlawfully in a dwelling. The details of these offences contained in an Agreed Statement of Fact which is at page 15 of the Hospital Report dated May 16, 2024, by way of Agreed Statement of Facts as follows:
“The Accused, Jordan Lowe and the Victim, R.B.C. reside in the same building at D[…], Mississauga. The Victim resides at unit […], while the accused resides at unit […].
On April 15, 2022, at approx. 3:57pm, the Victim was in her unit alone, door was unlocked. She was in her bathroom, doing her mascara. The Accused wandered in, attempted to pull her pants off while standing behind her. The Accused grabbed the Victim by the waist and began thrusting towards her in a sexual manner.
Victim knows Accused by first name only. Accused did not say anything to her while in her unit. Accused was wearing pajama pants but was shirtless and shoeless.
The Victim broke free and ran out into the hallway with Accused following. Victim was yelling for help and other residents came out.
The Accused continued the assault in the hallway and chased the victim down a stairwell where he continued to thrust at the victim from behind. The Accused chased her down to the 1st floor. While on 1st floor, the Accused grabbed Victim again and started to thrust at the Victim. Another Male witnessed the assault in hallway and followed them, intervened and assisted the Victim. Male had Accused in bear hold.
At some point, Accused was placed in a room on the first floor until police and EMS attended. Upon police arrival, police observed Accused hyperventilating, presenting with excessive sweating, grunting noises and unresponsive to police queries.
Police and EMS attended the scene and transported the accused to MGH for medical examination. At 10:00 pm Dr. ONG placed the accused on a Form 1.
Victim indicated to police she had a video of Accused saying he was trying to hump her. The Accused did not provide a statement.
Staff and neighbours indicate the Accused is schizophrenic and a known drug user.”
Evidence at Hearing
- The Board admitted into evidence the Hospital Report dated July 29, 2025. The Hospital Report provides a great deal of information concerning Mr. Lowe, his personal history, his mental health history, details of the index offences and Mr. Lowe’s course in hospitals subsequent to the date of the NCR finding. As the Hospital Report was made an exhibit at this hearing, it is not necessary to reproduce the information contained in the Hospital Report in these Reasons. We do note, however, the stated diagnoses of:
Schizophrenia
Cannabis Misuse
In addition to the documentary evidence, the Board heard from Dr. Benassi. Dr. Benassi confirmed that Mr. Lowe moved into the community yesterday. Dr. Benassi has been Mr. Lowe’s most responsible physician until yesterday. The Board understands that Dr. McMaster will become Mr. Lowe’s most responsible physician.
Dr. Benassi advised that the new residence, 96 Dowling, is a very high support facility. The doctor advised later, in response to a question, that this is not transitional housing and Mr. Lowe can remain in this residence for as long as he likes. The doctor believes that this residence is very appropriate to ensure ongoing medication compliance. In response to a question from a member of the panel, Dr. Benassi confirmed that this can be permanent accommodation, that Mr. Lowe receives ODSP benefits, and that arrangements have been made for ODSP to pay the residence charges directly to the residence.
The doctor is treating Mr. Lowe with both oral medication (clozapine) and an injectable medication. Mr. Lowe remains incapable of making treatment decisions and Mr. Lowe’s mother remains his Substitute Decision Maker (SDM). Mr. Lowe frequently visits with his mother who lives in the Brampton area. Mr. Lowe has also been at the mother’s home for periods of up to 72 hours. The doctor advised that Mr. Lowe continues to have residual psychotic symptoms.
Ms. Marshall asked the doctor why the team was not recommending a Conditional Discharge. The doctor noted again that Mr. Lowe has just moved into the community. Therefore, at this point in time, a Detention Order is absolutely necessary. It is important for the hospital to see how well Mr. Lowe accepts this new residence and how well he integrates into the community. There remain concerns of a history of using substances and the doctor put it that the team needs to have “the tools of a Detention Order” in case there is any problem with this move into the community.
In response to questions from Ms. Culp, Dr. Benassi described his patient’s insight as “limited”. The doctor repeated that his client remains incapable of making treatment decisions. Mr. Lowe does not have a full understanding of the symptoms of his illness. The doctor acknowledged that Mr. Lowe is agreeable to taking medication, however, it would appear this is externally motivated.
In response to questions from Mr. Halberstadt, Dr. Benassi repeated his opinion that there has been “no notable improvement” in Mr. Lowe’s insight. The doctor also advised Mr. Halberstadt that Mr. Lowe will have counselling available with respect to a number of issues. Dr. Benassi is not optimistic that there will be a substantial improvement in Mr. Lowe’s insight. The doctor did mention, however, that Mr. Lowe’s insight with respect to the dangers of using substances has improved.
No other evidence was heard at this hearing.
Findings of the Board
At the conclusion of the evidence, the parties were again canvassed as to their positions. All parties maintained their original positions, namely that Mr. Lowe remains a significant threat to public safety, and if the Board so finds, that the necessary and appropriate Disposition is a continuation of a Detention Order as set out in last year’s Disposition save and except that the Detention Order will be directed to the General Forensic Unit at CAMH. Under those circumstances the panel did not require submissions from any counsel.
The Board accepts the evidence of Dr. Benassi, and the evidence contained in the Hospital Report. In particular, we accept that at the present time Mr. Lowe remains a significant threat to public safety. We agree with Dr. Benassi’s opinion that it would be premature to consider a Conditional Discharge. We repeat that this gentleman has been living in the community for one day only. Accordingly, we will continue with a Detention Order with the one change set out above.
In reaching our Disposition, the Board has taken into consideration public safety, Mr. Lowe’s mental condition and his other needs, and Mr. Lowe’s reintegration into society.
DATED this 25th day of September, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. J. Goldenberg Alternate Chairperson
__________________ Office of the Registrar Ontario Review Board