News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After OPP Officer Discharges Less-Lethal Firearm at Man in Severn

Case Number: 25-PFP-128   

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Mississauga, ON (5 April, 2025) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after an Ontario Provincial Police officer discharged an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) at a 60-year-old man in Severn last night.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At about 8:30 p.m. on April 4, 2025, police received a report about a man threatening residents and setting fires to structures in the area of Peninsula Point Road.
  • Officers located the man in a backyard of a home and attempted to negotiate. In the course of the man’s arrest, an officer discharged a conducted energy weapon, followed by an ARWEN. 
  • The man was arrested and taken to hospital. He was not seriously injured.
Two 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

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.

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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES