KAWARTHA LAKES-A coroners inquest will look into the fatal police shooting of a man near Bobcaygeon in 2021.
Dr. Paul Dungey, Regional Supervising Coroner for the East Region, Kingston Regional Office, announced today that an inquest will be held into the death of Allan Wert.
Wert, 57, died on November 25, 2021, at a residential property on Devitt’s Road near Bobcaygeon following an interaction with an officer from the Ontario Provincial Police.
The SIU found an Ontario Provincial Police officer with the City of Kawartha Lakes Detachment attended a home on Devitt’s Road in the Bobcaygeon area to speak with a 57-year-old man in relation to the theft of gasoline from a gas station that morning.
The SIU says after the officer knocked on the door in the rear yard, the man exited onto the back deck while holding a rifle. The man told the officer to “Get out of here,” as he lifted and pointed the rifle at the officer according to police. In response, the officer shouted at the man to drop his weapon and drew his pistol. The officer discharged several rounds in quick succession. The man was struck and fell to the deck floor. The officer called for back-up and waited for their arrival. When the additional officers arrived, they went back onto the property to look for the male with the rifle. They located him deceased on the rear deck of the residence. Once officers were able to assure the area was safe of possible threats, they escorted paramedics to the scene where the man was located deceased.
The pathologist at autopsy was of the preliminary view that the Complainant’s death was attributable to a ‘gunshot wound of left shoulder’. The Complainant had sustained two gunshots. One was to the top of the left shoulder. The other was to the lower left abdomen.
The SIU cleared the officer of any wrongdoing.
An inquest into his death is mandatory under the Coroners Act.
The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Wert’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.
Details regarding the date and location of the inquest will be provided when the information becomes available.
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