NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
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The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating after two Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields (ARWENs) at a 28-year-old man in Penetanguishene.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- At approximately 11 p.m. on June 10, 2022, OPP officers responded to a home on Church Street for a domestic situation.
- While in the home, officers determined that a man was in mental distress. Attempts to apprehend him — including the discharges of ARWENs by two police officers — were to no avail.
- The man barricaded himself in the home, and negotiations continued for several hours.
- When the man set the home on fire at approximately 5:30 a.m. on June 11, 2022, officers were able to apprehend him. The man was taken to hospital for assessment. At this time, it does not appear he suffered any serious injury.
One investigator and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case. Two subject officials and three witness officials have been designated.
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 barrelled 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.
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
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.
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