News Release

SIU Investigating OPP Officer Who Shot Man with ARWEN in Gravenhurst

Case Number: 22-PFP-086   

Other News Releases Related to Case 22-PFP-086

No Charges Against OPP Officer After ARWEN Shot at Man in Gravenhurst

Mississauga, ON (25 March, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer shot a 30-year-old man with an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) yesterday.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • Just after midnight on March 24, 2022, OPP officers attempted to arrest the man at a home in Severn Bridge as part of a drug trafficking investigation.
  • Officers spoke to the man to get him to exit the residence, but he refused.
  • Officers entered the home and located the man armed with a knife.
  • One officer shot and struck the man with an ARWEN and he dropped the knife. The man then fell into medical distress due to a suspected drug overdose. Officers administered Narcan to the man and he was arrested. He was released from hospital yesterday.
One subject official and 11 witness officials have been designated at this time.

Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.

The SIU’s mandate has been invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, which is classified as a firearm. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php

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