News Release
No Charges in Police Discharge of ARWEN During Arrest of Man in North Bay
Case Number: 21-PFP-142
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-PFP-142
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer committed a criminal offence for discharging an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) during the arrest of a man in North Bay last May.
On May 5, 2021, an OPP officer discharged an ARWEN while arresting a man wanted for violent and firearm-related offences. The man was not struck and was not physically injured. He was arrested without further incident.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1535
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