News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Man with Hatchet Shot by Guelph Police Officer
Case Number: 23-OFI-056
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OFI-056
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Guelph Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with shooting a 44-year-old man.
On February 26, 2023, officers went to the intersection of Paisley Road and Silvercreek Parkway as a vehicle was stalled. They detected the smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath. The man brandished a hatchet and refused repeated direction to drop the weapon. One officer fired at the man seven times. He was struck in the left forearm, right hip and right buttock. Director Martino was satisfied that it constituted reasonable force in the circumstances.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES