Officer Injured In Police Shooting Incident In Kawartha Lakes Transferred To Hospital Closer To Home

On November 26, 2020, a 33-year-old man became involved in an interaction with OPP officers in the City of Kawartha Lakes. According to the provinces Special Investigations Unit three officers discharged their firearms at the man, the man was struck and later died in hospital. During the interaction, a one-year-old boy sustained a fatal gunshot wound according to the SIU.

 

Prior to the shooting, the man’s vehicle collided with an OPP cruiser and a civilian vehicle. An OPP officer who was outside of the cruiser – laying down a spike belt – sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision. The officer was initially taken to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto.

The OPP Association told Kawartha 411 News the officer was transferred last night. He is in stable condition and is recovering.

Scott Mills,Strategic Communications Coordinator, Ontario Provincial Police Association said the other officers involved are taking this incident very hard. “Everybody is devastated, when a small child dies tragically it has an impact on everyone involved.”

The SIU says the three officers who discharged their firearms were designated as subject officers. Thirteen OPP officers were designated as witness officers.

The Centre of Forensic Sciences is in possession of the man’s pickup truck for examination. The CFS is also in possession of a handgun that was located in the pickup truck. The three police-issued firearms that were discharged are currently with the SIU.

“I think it’s important to wait for the facts to come out before coming to any conclusions but regardless of the outcome a small child died and that is devastating.” Mills said.