News Release
No Grounds to Lay Charges Against Officer in Almonte Who Discharged Firearm Following Attack by Dog
Case Number: 18-PFI-177
Other News Releases Related to Case 18-PFI-177
SIU Investigating After Woman in Almonte Sustains Gunshot Wound
On the morning of June 12, 2018, officers attended a residence in the Town of Almonte in relation to an investigation. The officers arrived at the front porch of the residence and rang the doorbell. As the home’s resident opened the door, two dogs exited the house, attacking and biting the officers. In order to stop the attack, one of the officers discharged her firearm at one of the dogs; as the officer did so, the home’s resident tripped and fell in front of the officer, resulting in one of the projectiles striking her in the leg. An ambulance was summoned. Both officers were transported to hospital for treatment of dog bite injuries, and the home’s resident was taken to hospital to be treated for the firearm injury. Then Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges in this case.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.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