News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into OPP Officer Firing ARWEN at Man in Oshawa Area
Case Number: 23-PFP-082
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-PFP-082
SIU Investigating After OPP Officer Fires ARWEN at Man in Oshawa Area
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe an Ontario Provincial Police officer committed a criminal offence in connection with firing an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 23-year-old man. On March 13, 2023, officers were surveilling the man as he was wanted on warrants for assault and weapons charges. Officers moved in to arrest him in the area of Sam Colonel Drive and the man fled on foot before he was struck by ARWEN rounds and continued to flee. A short distance later he surrendered and was arrested. A backpack was recovered and found to contain a loaded pistol.
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