News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After Police Officer Discharges ARWEN at Man in Ottawa

Case Number: 22-OFP-172   

Other News Releases Related to Case 22-OFP-172

SIU Concludes Investigation into Ottawa Police Officer’s Discharge of ARWEN at Man

Mississauga, ON (5 July, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after an Ottawa Police Service officer discharged an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) yesterday at a 37-year-old man. 

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 12:30 p.m. on July 4, 2022, Ottawa Police Service officers were dispatched to a residence on Claremont Drive in relation to a man breaching his conditions.
  • The man refused to exit the residence, threatening to harm himself if the officers came in. Negotiations continued.
  • Some time later, officers observed the man with a self-inflicted wound to his neck. There was an interaction, and one officer discharged his ARWEN. The man was taken into custody and transported to the hospital. At this time, it does not appear that the man suffered any serious injury as a result of the ARWEN deployment.
Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.  

The SIU’s mandate was 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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES