News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Discharge of ARWEN at Man in Orillia

Case Number: 24-PFP-143   

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Mississauga, ON (30 March, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the discharge of an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) yesterday at a 33-year-old man in Orillia.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 4:30 a.m. on March 29, 2024, Ontario Provincial Police responded to a building on 75 Queen Street East for a person in crisis.  
  • Upon arriving, officers observed a man on the roof threatening to harm himself.
  • After a couple of hours of negotiations, the man came down. 
  • There was an interaction and an officer deployed his ARWEN. The man was struck. 
  • He was apprehended and transported to hospital.

While the man did not sustain any serious injury, 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.

Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. 

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES