News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into ARWEN Discharge by OPP Officer in Ayr
Case Number: 23-PFP-271
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-PFP-271
SIU Investigating After OPP Officer Discharged ARWEN at Man in Brant County
In the early morning of July 17, 2023, OPP officers were called to the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area. Staff had contacted police to report that a man was refusing to leave and had operated his vehicle on the grounds at dangerous speeds. On hearing the police arrive, the man hid in some bushes. Officers surrounded the area and attempted to negotiate his peaceful surrender. The man told police he was on drugs and had a knife. When the man ran towards officers, an officer discharged his Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield, and the man was struck. The 46-year-old man was taken into custody. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that an officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the discharge of the ARWEN. There was no basis for proceeding with criminal charges in this case, and the file has been closed.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES