News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After Brantford Police Officer Discharged ARWEN at Man

Case Number: 22-OFP-065   

Other News Releases Related to Case 22-OFP-065

SIU Concludes Investigation into Brantford Officer Who Shot ARWEN at Man During Arrest

Mississauga, ON (7 March, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a Brantford Police Service officer discharged an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) at a 53-year-old man in Brantford on Friday.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 4:44 p.m. on March 4, 2022, emergency responders received a 911 call regarding a man in distress at a residence on Victoria Street.
  • Brantford Police Service officers were dispatched, and the man threatened officers with a knife. One officer discharged an ARWEN and struck him with a round. 
  • He was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital. The man was released from hospital later that evening. He was not injured.
The man did not sustain any serious injury, but the SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, which is classified as 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, including video or photos, to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or online at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES