News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into ARWEN Discharges by Officers in Gananoque
Case Number: 25-PFP-315
Other News Releases Related to Case 25-PFP-315
In the afternoon of August 15, 2025, Gananoque Police Service officers were dispatched to a residence to investigate a report of a disturbance. Upon arriving, and through a broken front window, officers attempted to calm a 42-year-old man who appeared to be in a mental health crisis. The man told officers they would have to kill him, and he displayed a knife at the officers. OPP assistance was requested. Negotiations with the man continued, but without success. As time went on, the decision was made to enter the residence. Once the door was forced open, two officers discharged their Anti-Riot Weapon ENfields (ARWENs) at the man. He was struck. In addition, an officer released his police dog, which bit the man in the right leg. At hospital following his arrest, the man was diagnosed with bruising (the result of the ARWEN impacts) and a minor dog bite (which did not require stitches). On his assessment of the evidence, SIU Director Joseph Martino determined there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident.
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