News Release
SIU Investigates Incident in Shelburne
Case Number: 07-PCI-034
Other News Releases Related to Case 07-PCI-034
The Shelburne Police Service (SPS) notified the SIU that on February 14, 2007, at approximately 2:55 p.m., officers responded to a call about a man who had broken into a home on Andrews Street in Shelburne. SPS officers arrived and found that the man had barricaded himself inside the garage. They attempted to negotiate with him.
At about 3:24 p.m., the SPS contacted the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) because there was an indication the barricaded man may be armed with a firearm. OPP Emergency Response Team and Tactical Rescue Unit officers arrived and secured a perimeter around the home. At approximately 12:00 a.m., OPP officers entered the garage and found the man in medical distress. He was taken to Headwaters Health Care Centre and then transferred to St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto where he is currently in a coma.
SIU investigators are examining the nature and extent of police involvement in the circumstances surrounding this man's injury. The investigation is continuing.
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