News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After OPP Officer Discharged ARWEN at Man in Brant County

Case Number: 23-PFP-271   

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Mississauga, ON (17 July, 2023) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after an Ontario Provincial Police officer discharged an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 46-year-old man in a campground in Brant County early this morning.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • On July 17, 2023, officers were called by staff at the Grand River Conservation Authority to the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area for a man who was trespassing.
  • Officers arrived at about 2:40 a.m. and attempted to locate the man. The man was located, and an attempt was made to arrest him. There was an interaction between the man and officers. 
  • An officer fired their ARWEN at the man, striking him twice.
  • He was taken to hospital.
The man did not suffer any serious injury, but 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.

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.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES