News Release

SIU Investigating After Police Officers Discharge ARWENs at Man in St. Catharines

Case Number: 24-OFP-505   

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Mississauga, ON (25 November, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after two Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon ENfields (ARWENs) earlier today at a 46-year-old man in St. Catharines.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • Around noon on November 25, 2024, NRPS officers were dispatched to the area of Dunkirk Road and Bunting Road in St. Catharines for a man in distress.
  • Upon arriving, officers located the man inside his vehicle, and they made attempts to speak with him. 
  • At some point, two officers discharged their ARWENs at the man. He was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to hospital.

Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.

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

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.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 laid
  • publicly report the results of its investigations

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES