News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After Police Officers Shoot Man in St. Catharines

Case Number: 20-OFI-360   

Other News Releases Related to Case 20-OFI-360

No Charges to Issue in Relation to Shooting of Man by Officers in St. Catharines

Mississauga, ON (25 December, 2020) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding a shooting that occurred early this morning in St. Catharines, resulting in serious injuries to a 30-year-old man.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Friday December 25, 2020, the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) was asked by another police service for assistance in locating a person of interest believed to be heading into NRPS’s jurisdiction. 
  • At 2:46 a.m., officers located a vehicle of interest being operated in the area of Vansickle Road and St. Paul Street West in St. Catharines.  
  • Using a stop stick, officers managed to stop the vehicle.
  • There was an interaction between officers and the 30-year-old man who was driving the vehicle. While the man was outside of the vehicle, two officers discharged their firearms and the man was struck.
  • He was taken to hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.

A knife was located at the scene and is in the possession of SIU forensic investigators. Investigators have also taken possession of two police-issued firearms.

Three investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. At this time, two subject officers and five witness officers have been designated. 

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.

If you or someone you know has been negatively affected by an incident under SIU investigation and would like support, the Affected Persons Program is here to help. You can reach us at 1-877-641-1897. Support is free, confidential, and available 24/7, every day of the year.

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

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