News Release
No Charges Against North Bay Police Officer in ARWEN Discharges at Youth
Case Number: 21-OFP-181
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFP-181
SIU Investigating the Discharge of a Less-Lethal Firearm at a Young Man in North Bay
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe that a North Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with discharging an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) at a 17-year-old boy before his arrest in June.
On June 10, 2021, the North Bay Police Service responded to 911 calls placed by residents of Ski Club Road in North Bay. The calls were about the youth who appeared intoxicated and had a handgun. During the course of his arrest, police discharged an ARWEN at him twice and struck him once. The youth was taken to hospital after his arrest. He was not seriously injured.
Director Martino was unable to reasonably conclude the use of the ARWEN was excessive in nature as it appeared that the youth had a functioning handgun. The file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=1582
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