News Release
Police Action Was a Measured and Commensurate Response to the Risks at Hand
Case Number: 21-OFP-105
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFP-105
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer comported himself unlawfully in the use of a less-lethal force, there is no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case.
On April 4, 2021, the Brantford Police Service (BPS) responded to a report of a man brandishing a sword. During the initial stages of what would become a four-day standoff with police at his home, the man was struck with a less-lethal Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) round fired by a BPS officer. It did not affect the man and did not cause him to drop his sword. The man was agitated, spoke incoherently, and threatened to kill the officers while holding a sword in his right hand. He was ultimately taken into custody without having suffered any serious injury.
Director Martino concluded that the officers were entitled to defend themselves and that the use of a less-lethal force was a measured and commensurate response to the risk at hand.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1481
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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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES