News Release
SIU Investigating Discharge of Less-Lethal Shotgun at Man in Belleville
Case Number: 22-OFP-121
Other News Releases Related to Case 22-OFP-121
No Charges Against Officer in Relation to Discharge of Less-lethal Firearm at Man in Belleville
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a Belleville Police Service officer discharged a less-lethal shotgun at a 27-year-old man today in Belleville.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- At approximately 6 a.m. on April 30, 2022, Belleville Police Service officers were dispatched to a residence on Pine Street, near Humewood Drive, for a domestic incident.
- Upon arrival, officers encountered a man on the street holding a knife. The man would not comply with demands to drop the knife and proceeded to walk away from the officers.
- An officer deployed a conducted energy weapon at the man, and when that was ineffective, the officer discharged a less-lethal firearm at the man. The man was struck and he dropped the knife.
- After being taken into custody, the man was taken to hospital. He was not seriously injured.
The SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an less-lethal shotgun, 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.
One investigator and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. At this time, two witness officials and one subject official have been designated.
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
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
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SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES