News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Serious Injury After Use of Conducted Energy Weapon in Barrie
Case Number: 24-OCI-318
The Special Investigations Unit found no reasonable grounds to believe a Barrie Police Service officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the serious injury of a 25-year-old man. On July 22, 2024, police were called after the man exposed his genitalia to shelter staff. The man ignored police commands when he was being arrested for an indecent act. As he turned away from officers, an officer discharged a conducted energy weapon (CEW) and he fell forward on the ground on Maple Avenue.
The man was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured jaw and missing teeth.
Director Joseph Martino found the use of the CEW to be a reasonable tactic. Had it worked as intended, the man would have been temporarily incapacitated, allowing for his safe apprehension, without the infliction of serious injury. Regrettably, the use of the weapon always carries with it a risk of injury, which materialized in this case. That risk, in Director Martino’s view, was not a prohibitive one in the circumstances.
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.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES