NEWS RELEASE
SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
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The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields (ARWEN) yesterday on Georgian Bay.
Preliminary information suggests the following:
- On May 28, 2022, police became aware of a man on a boat on the Georgian Bay who was in possession of firearms.
- Officers with the OPP marine unit and tactical team located the 72-year-old man, and an interaction ensued.
- Officers discharged their ARWENs in the direction of the man’s boat, and the man was apprehended and taken to hospital. He was not diagnosed with any serious injury.
Two investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.
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.
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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