News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating ARWEN Discharges in Brantford

Case Number: 21-OFP-105   

Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFP-105

Police Action Was a Measured and Commensurate Response to the Risks at Hand

Mississauga, ON (7 April, 2021) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the discharge of police ARWENs that occurred in Brantford.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 1:15 p.m. on April 4, 2021, a man in possession of a machete approached an ambulance that had been parked on Grey Street. He began to make threats.
  • Soon after Brantford Police Service officers arrived, the 37-year-old man retreated into his home. At some point, the man exited his home and advanced towards the police officers with a knife and sword in his hands.
  • Use of force was employed against the man, including one officer firing plastic projectiles from an Anti Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN). 
  • The man re-entered his home and barricaded himself. A perimeter was established and efforts were made to communicate with the man.
  • To support the ongoing situation, other police services attended.
  • Yesterday morning, an officer with the Guelph Police Service also discharged his ARWEN at the man. The man went back inside his home.
  • Today at approximately 4 p.m., there was interaction between the man and officers with the Ontario Provincial Police, which included multiple officers discharging their ARWENs. The man was apprehended and transported to hospital for treatment. 

The SIU’s mandate was invoked because of a possible serious injury sustained by the man, and also because police officers discharged ARWENs at the man. 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.

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 relevant video evidence – cell phone video, home surveillance, dash cam footage – 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

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