News Release

SIU Investigating Incident in London after Man Sets Self on Fire

Case Number: 19-OCI-179   

Mississauga, ON (2 August, 2019) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the serious injuries sustained by a 48-year-old man earlier today in London.
 
Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 1 p.m. on August 2, 2019, an individual called 911 to report that there was a man in distress outside the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office located at 417 Exeter Road.
  • Officers arrived at the scene and attempted to communicate with the man who was threatening to harm himself.
  • Two officers fired plastic projectiles from an Anti Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) at the man.
  • The man then set himself on fire.
  • Firefighters, who were already on scene, were able to extinguish the fire, and the man was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to this incident.
 
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

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.