News Release
No Charges in Police Discharge of ARWEN, CEW at Man in Brampton
Case Number: 21-OFI-092
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFI-092
SIU Investigating After Officers Discharge ARWEN and CEW at Man in Brampton
The province’s Special Investigations Unit has found there are no grounds to charge Peel Regional Police officers who discharged less-lethal weapons at a 53-year-old man in Brampton in March 2021.
At approximately 2 a.m. on March 22, 2021, an individual contacted police to report that he was in distress and intended to harm himself. Officers were able to locate him in Rosalea Park in Brampton.
An officer attempted to negotiate before the man began to harm himself with a knife. Two officers responded by firing less-lethal projectiles from an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) at the man, and a third officer subsequently discharged his conducted energy weapon (CEW). The man was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Director Joseph Martino concluded the officers involved used reasonable force that was successful in preventing the man from causing further, possibly even lethal, injury to himself.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
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