News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into OPP Officers’ ARWEN Discharges at Man in Boat on Georgian Bay
Case Number: 22-PFP-138
Other News Releases Related to Case 22-PFP-138
SIU Investigating After Police Officers Discharge ARWENs on Georgian Bay
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, has found no reasonable grounds to believe that two Ontario Provincial Police officers committed a criminal offence in connection with firing Anti-riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) rounds toward a man on a boat in Georgian Bay.
On May 28, 2022, two officers approached the man’s boat to apprehend him under section 17 of the Mental Health Act. They had information provided by his wife and others that he was in crisis and in possession of several firearms. As they approached the man in their police vessel, the officers attempted to negotiate with the man to surrender and raise his hands. He refused and retrieved his rifle. Both officers fired their less lethal weapons. He was arrested and was not injured. None of the rounds struck the man.
In the result, Director Martino found no reasonable grounds to believe that either officer comported himself unlawfully in firing their ARWENs at 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): https://siu.on.ca/en/directors_report_details.php?drid=2134
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