News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Officer’s Less-Lethal Firearm Shots at Armed Man in Thunder Bay
Case Number: 24-OFP-096
Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OFP-096
SIU Investigating After Officer Discharged Less-Lethal Firearm at Man in Thunder Bay
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe a Thunder Bay Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with shooting a less-lethal firearm at a 43-year-old man.
On March 1, 2024, police received a report of a male brandishing what appeared to be a pistol at a shopping complex on Fort William Road. After the man refused to drop the weapon, an officer shot five foam munitions at the man. Shortly after, the man dropped the weapon -- which turned out to be an air pistol -- and was arrested. Director Martino said the police could not have been certain it was an air pistol, so they were entitled to proceed on the basis that it was a lethal 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.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES