A 16-yer-old youth "produced" a knife when he "observed" Orillia OPP officers in his Westmount Drive South home Wednesday morning, according to the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU).
One officer responded by discharging his ARWEN (anti-riot weapon) at the youth. The ARWEN can launch a variety of projectiles including plastic bullets, tear gas and less-lethal batons.
The youth was taken to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital but "did not sustain any serious injury," according to a media release from the SIU.
The police were called to the home for a "domestic incident" at about 11:30 a.m., notes the SIU in its media release.
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."
Three investigators 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
