News Release

SIU Determines No Criminal Wrongdoing in Relation to Police-Involved Shooting at Fort Erie Hospital

Case Number: 18-OFI-146   

Other News Releases Related to Case 18-OFI-146

SIU Investigating Shooting of Man in Fort Erie

Mississauga, ON (9 April, 2019) ---
On May 18, 2018, a 29-year-old man was brought by Emergency Medical Services to Douglas Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care Centre in Fort Erie. Sometime later, the man entered the room of another patient and stabbed him with a large hunting knife. Hospital staff fled the room and patients in the waiting room were directed to leave. The man proceeded to roam the hospital’s hallways with the knife in his hands. Niagara Regional Police Service officers responded to the hospital and shortly after located the man. When the man charged at an officer, the officer discharged his firearm, striking the man once. Then Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Tony Loparco, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to lay criminal charges against the officer in relation to this 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 (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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