News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating Officer’s Discharge of ARWEN at Man in Mississauga

Case Number: 24-OFP-273   

Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OFP-273

SIU Finds no Basis to Charge Police Officer who Discharged ARWEN at Man in Mississauga

Mississauga, ON (28 June, 2024) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the discharge of an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) this morning at a 38-year-old man in Mississauga.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 2 a.m. June 28, 2024, Peel Regional Police officers were dispatched to the area of Elmwood Avenue South and Lakeshore Road East after receiving information that a man with an edged weapon was in the area.
  • Officers located the male, contained the area and initiated negotiations with the man.
  • At some point, an interaction ensued and  one officer deployed his ARWEN.
  • The man was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to hospital for assessment.  

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 has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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