News Release

News Release

SIU Continues Investigation into ARWEN Discharge in Malton

Case Number: 21-OFP-120   

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Mississauga, ON (18 April, 2021) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the discharge of an ARWEN that occurred on Thursday in Malton.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 5:00 a.m. on April 15, 2021, a 25-year-old man contacted 911 to report he was in possession of a firearm and would harm individuals.
  • Peel Regional Police officers were dispatched to the area of Goreway Drive and Morning Star Drive and located the man in the parking lot near the Dollarama. 
  • There was an interaction, and one officer discharged an Anti Riot Weapon ENfield (ARWEN) at the man and another officer deployed a conducted energy weapon. 
  • The man was transported to hospital for assessment.

Two investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case. One subject official has been designated and three witness officials have been interviewed to date.  

The SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, which is considered to be a firearm. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.

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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