News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating ARWEN Discharge in Niagara Falls

Case Number: 21-OFP-123   

Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFP-123

No Charges After ARWEN Fired at Man in Niagara Falls

Mississauga, ON (21 April, 2021) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the discharge of an ARWEN last week by a Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) officer.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • On April 15, 2021, NRPS officers were dispatched to the area of River Road and Otter Street in Niagara Falls for a neighbor dispute call. When police arrived, one of the individuals barricaded himself in his home.
  • At approximately 10:45 a.m. on April 16, 2021, officers entered the home of the 40-year-old man after obtaining a Feeney arrest warrant.
  • An interaction ensued and an officer discharged an Anti Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN). The man was arrested.

The man did not sustain any serious injury, but 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.

Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. One subject official and three witness officials have been designated. 

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 has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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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