KAWARTHA LAKES-The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after an Ontario Provincial Police officer discharged an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 51-year-old man in Bancroft yesterday afternoon.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- After 1:30 p.m. on January 20, 2022, officers responded to a residence in Bancroft for a man in distress.
- Officers attempted to negotiate with the man, who had a knife.
- There was an interaction and the officer discharged an ARWEN at the man. Another officer discharged a Conducted Energy Weapon at the man.
- Officers apprehended him under the Mental Health Act. Paramedics transported him to hospital and he was released with no injuries.
The man did not sustain any serious injury, but the SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, which is classified as a firearm. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being lai
- publicly report the results of its investigations
