News Release
SIU Completes Investigation into Ottawa Police Officer Who Shot at Sword-Wielding Man
Case Number: 23-OFP-075
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OFP-075
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ottawa Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with firing his rifle at a 44-year-old man. On March 8, 2023, the man, armed with a Samurai sword, was shot at in a confrontation with officers at a residence on Walkley Road after he did not obey commands to drop the weapon. None of the three rounds struck him. He was struck by two Conducted Energy Weapons, dropped the sword and was arrested.
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