Re: Paul Michael Dabbs
ORB File No: 6885
Hearing held on: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Place of hearing: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Pursuant to: Section 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. B. Garrow
Members: Dr. B. Sheppard Dr. L.O. Lightfoot Ms. J. Ferguson Mr. S. Duffy
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Paul Michael Dabbs Counsel: Ms. S. Dubb
The Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Dr. R. McMaster
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Mr. R. Mushlian
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated February 3, 2026)
Introduction
On December 24, 2015, Paul Dabbs was found not criminally responsible (“NCR”) on account of mental disorder on charges of assault and aggravated assault, contrary to the Criminal Code, (the “Code”).
Mr. Dabbs is conditionally discharged under terms of a disposition dated August 16, 2024.
On October 29, 2025, the Board convened a hearing, pursuant to s. 672.81(1) of the Code to conduct the annual review of the current disposition. Mr. Dabbs was present at the hearing and represented by counsel.
The issues before the Board are whether Mr. Dabbs continues to pose a significant risk to the safety of the public, and if so, what is the necessary and appropriate disposition to manage that risk having regard to the criteria set out in s. 672. 54 of the Code.
On behalf of the hospital, Dr. McMaster submitted that there be no change to Mr. Dabbs’ current disposition. Counsel for the Attorney General for Ontario supported the hospital’s submission. Counsel for Mr. Dabbs requested that his client be given an absolute discharge.
For the reasons that follow, the Board finds that Mr. Dabbs continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and that his care should continue on the same terms as his current disposition.
Evidentiary Record
- Dr. McMaster co-authored the Hospital Report dated June 6, 2025, Exhibit 1, and testified on behalf of the hospital.
Background
Mr. Dabbs’ personal and psychiatric history, including the details of his mental disorder and treatment since being found NCR, are described in detail in the Hospital Report. Briefly, Mr. Dabbs is 63 years of age, single, with no dependents. In 2019, he moved into an independent apartment. He was granted a conditional discharge in 2023. In 2024 the substance use provisions of his disposition were removed.
Mr. Dabbs’ current diagnoses are schizophrenia and substance abuse disorder (alcohol and cannabis). As noted in the Hospital Report, he remains on olanzapine, an oral antipsychotic medication which is taken daily.
The following summary of circumstances surrounding the index offence are excerpted from the last year’s Reasons for Disposition:
“In the morning of April 5, 2015, Mr. Dabbs entered the Atrium indoor mall in downtown Toronto, in a psychotic state. At the time, Mrs. and Mr. N., an Asian couple in their mid- 80's, were at the stairs going up to leave the mall; Mr. N. started up the stairs and Mrs. N. paused to steady herself before navigating them. Mr. Dabbs observed them, went directly to Mrs. N., struck her arm, and shoved her frail body, knocking her to the floor, shattering her hip bone. When Mr. N. came to help her, Mr. Dabbs walked over to him and shoved his body, but he did not fall down. When arrested, Mr. Dabbs confirmed the altercation, and made racist and sexist comments about Mrs. N., saying she deserved it and that he hit her husband too. He was found to be in possession of small packets of cannabis.”
Course Since Last Annual Review
The treatment team’s goals for this reporting year were twofold: reduce of oversight of Mr. Dabbs allowing him to be more independent in the community and arrange for a non-forensic team to assume responsibility for care should he be granted an absolute discharge. Accordingly, Mr. Dabbs’ reporting requirements were reduced to once per month. In addition, the downtown central ACCT team was prepared for his transition to their care. However, they require that he be formally discharged absolutely before he is transitioned to their care.
Dr. McMaster confirmed that overall Mr. Dabbs had another positive year working with the treatment team. He met regularly with his case worker and his psychiatrist monthly. As reported, he continued to live independently, his mental state remained stable and there were no critical incidents.
However, in or about June Mr. Dabbs began expressing thoughts about lowering his medication; but suggested that he would not do so until after receiving an absolute discharge. Dr. McMaster confirmed that the team considered lowering his medication while he was still under the Board’s supervision and being followed; however, he declined. According to the Hospital Report, Mr. Dabbs was considered to have difficulty appraising his risk of relapse, generally minimizing the same and stating that he would simply have the dose increased should that occur. Of note however, when unwell Mr. Dabbs’ insight has declined to the point that he no longer has insight into his mental illness.
In January 2017, Mr. Dabbs was taking olanzapine 15 mg daily. He denied any depressive or manic symptoms. However, he was concerned about weight gain and increased fatigue. olanzapine was slowly decreased to 12.5 mg by September and to 10 mg later in the month. In October, Mr. Dabbs requested a further reduction to 7.5 mg due to his concern about decreased sexual functionality. In November he requested a further decrease to 5 mg for the same reason. He did not believe that lowering his antipsychotic medication increased his risk for relapse of his psychotic symptoms.
In February 2018, Mr. Dabbs was discharged to TRHP2 housing at White Squirrel Way. He was readmitted to CAMH later that month due to deterioration in his mental state, including experiencing auditory hallucinations. During his inpatient stay his Olanzapine was increased back to 15 mg. He was discharged at the end of March. However, in November he revealed that he had not disclosed that he was still experiencing psychotic symptoms because he wanted to be discharged rather than remain in hospital “for the rest of [his] life.”
In or about May 2021, Mr. Dabbs suffered a deterioration in his mental health. He missed a follow up appointment, did not pick up a refill of his medication and could not be immediately located. When eventually located he was notably disheveled, unkempt, responding to internal stimuli. On return to CAMH he was observed to be disorganized and delusional. During a prolonged course in hospital his olanzapine was increased to 30 mg. He was discharged back to the community and as reported his mental state returned to baseline within a couple of months.
In late August of this reporting period, Mr. Dabbs requested that his antipsychotic medication be lowered due to perceived sexual functioning side effects. Dr. McMaster lowered the dosage of olanzapine from 30 mg to 20 mg, cautiously and with the knowledge that there is a risk of a return of psychotic symptoms. Mr. Dabbs reports some relief from the side effects. He has spoken of reducing the dosage of olanzapine further but says he will stay on the same dose for now. Dr. McMaster does not anticipate problems if the olanzapine is maintained at 20 mg. But it is too early to say. Certainly, the risk of relapse of symptoms would increase if the dosage was reduced further.
In the circumstances, the treatment team is of the view that Mr. Dabbs should be maintained on his current disposition for at least the next six months, to monitor his mental state and develop confidence that the reduction in his medication has no deleterious effects. The treatment team’s recommendation was supported by the person in charge at a committee to review Mr. Dabbs prehearing status.
At Mr. Dabbs’ last annual hearing, he requested that the condition that he remain abstinent from using cannabis be removed from his disposition. The Board granted his request. Dr. McMaster testified that the treatment team has not noticed any change in Mr. Dabbs’ cannabis use, either by way of increase or decrease in his use. Asked whether more therapeutic programming was being considered to address Mr. Dabbs on going use of cannabis, Dr. McMaster responded that it appears a plateau has been reached. The treatment team does not endorse his use of cannabis and asked him to stop using, notwithstanding his mental state has remained stable since the abstinence provision was removed from his disposition.
Analysis and Conclusions
Having considered all of the evidence and the submissions presented by the parties the Board finds that Mr. Dabbs continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public and that his care should continue on the same terms as his current disposition.
Mr. Dabbs has continued on a positive trajectory towards full reintegration into society. We are mindful of the difficulties Mr. Dabbs experienced when his antipsychotic medication was lowered in the recent past. Mr. Dabbs is currently on a reduced dosage of his primary antipsychotic, olanzapine, and we fully endorse the treatment team’s recommendation that a further period of observation and following in the community before an absolute discharge is considered is warranted.
We accept unreservedly and need not repeat the treatment team’s opinion with respect to the significant threat Mr. Dabbs poses at this juncture in his treatment, as detailed in the Hospital Report and addressed by Dr. McMaster in his testimony. We trust that Mr. Dabbs will continue to respond well and engage with the treatment team as they continue to develop the confidence necessary to conclude that he has the ability to manage his mental health risk successfully on his own in the context of an absolute discharge.
In coming to these conclusions, the Board has considered its responsibility pursuant to s. 672.54 of the Code to make a disposition that is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances, taking in to account the safety of the public, which is the paramount consideration, the mental condition of the accused, his reintegration into society, and his other needs.
DATED this 3rd day of February, 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. B. Garrow
Alternate Chairperson
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board