News Release
SIU Discontinues Investigation into Man Reportedly Injured After Nerf Gun Arrest East of Ottawa
Case Number: 21-PCI-217
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into an 18-year-old man reported to have suffered a serious injury during his arrest by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers in Clarence-Rockland last month.
Based on the SIU’s preliminary inquiries, on July 10, 2021, Rockland OPP pulled over and arrested a man in a vehicle after reports were received that he fired a Nerf gun randomly at people. The following day, after he was released from custody, the man went to a medical clinic. Director Martino concluded that there was no evidence that the man had been diagnosed with a serious injury within the terms of the SIU’s mandate. In this circumstance, the SIU is without statutory jurisdiction and the SIU’s file has been closed. The matter has been referred to the OPP for their consideration.
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