News Release

In the afternoon of October 15, 2024, Brantford Police Service officers attended a residence after a member of the sheriff’s office reported that while attempting to evict a man from an apartment, the man threatened her with death. Officers, while outside of the apartment, were also threatened with death by the 51-year-old man from inside the apartment. Upon opening the door, officers observed the man with an axe.  He was unreceptive to negotiations, which continued for about four hours. At one point, an officer was able to grab hold of the man through the opening in the door. A struggle ensued. From the area of the door’s threshold, an officer fired his Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at the man five times. The man was arrested and transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a laceration to the upper right shoulder and a fracture of the right clavicle. On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that the officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the use of the ARWEN.

Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision): https://www.siu.on.ca/en/directors_reports.php.