News Release

News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Firing of 40 mm Launcher at Man in Ottawa

Case Number: 24-OFP-552   

Other News Releases Related to Case 24-OFP-552

SIU Investigating After Officer Shot Less-Lethal Firearm at Man in Ottawa

Mississauga, ON (23 April, 2025) ---
On December 24, 2024, an Ottawa Police Service officer fired a sponge-round from a 40 mm launcher at a 33-year-old man who continued to ignore police commands to surrender. The SIU initiated an investigation. 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 40 mm launcher.

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

The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (municipal, regional and provincial police officers, police officers with the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, 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