News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation After Halton Officer Fired Less-Lethal Weapon at Man in Oakville
Case Number: 23-OFP-274
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OFP-274
SIU Investigating After Halton Police Officer Shot ARWEN at Man in Oakville
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Halton Regional Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with shooting an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 19-year-old man in July.
On the afternoon of July 18, 2023, officers were on the lookout for the man. He reportedly was involved in carjackings, brandishing a handgun, earlier that day. The man fled the scene of a motor vehicle collision at Trafalgar Road and Ceremonial Drive. Officers, including a police service dog, were sent to a residential address in the area of McCraney Street East and Trafalgar Road after an officer saw the man run into a backyard. The police service dog located the man hiding under a deck and bit his right arm. The man was ordered to the ground but did not comply. An officer fired his ARWEN twice at the man, with the rounds striking the man’s back. He fell to the ground and was arrested. He was taken to hospital to be treated for several dog bite puncture wounds. The ARWEN rounds did not seriously injure the man.
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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES