News Release
No Charges Against OPP Officers After Man Shot with ARWEN in Bancroft
Case Number: 22-PFP-016
Other News Releases Related to Case 22-PFP-016
SIU Investigating After OPP Officer Discharged ARWEN at Man in Bancroft
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence was committed in connection with the discharge of an Anti-riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 51-year-old man during his apprehension in January.
On January 20, 2022, officers were called to the man’s residence in Bancroft as he was holding a knife and threatening to harm himself. Officers attempted to speak to the man unsuccessfully. The man lifted the knife and the officer fired his ARWEN. Another officer discharged a Conducted Energy Weapon at the man. The man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act, and taken to hospital where he was released the same day with no serious injury.
Director Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe that either subject official comported himself unlawfully in their dealings with the man, leaving no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case. 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES