News Release
No Charges Against Police Officer Who Fired ARWEN at Man Fleeing Arrest in Brantford
Case Number: 21-OFP-231
Other News Releases Related to Case 21-OFP-231
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a Brantford Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the discharges of an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 40-year-old man while he fled police last July.
On July 27, 2021, officers executed a search warrant at a residence on Rawdon Street in Brantford. The man fled police from the home. While the man was on the roof of a neighbouring address, officers discharged an ARWEN and Conducted Energy Weapon at him before he was handcuffed. The man did not sustain any serious injury in the course of his arrest.
Director Martino was satisfied that the officer’s ARWEN discharges were legally justified in the circumstances. The file has been closed.
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