News Release

News Release

SIU Investigating After Officers Discharge ARWENs at Man in Thunder Bay

Case Number: 22-OFP-203   

Other News Releases Related to Case 22-OFP-203

SIU Concludes Investigation into ARWEN Discharges by Officers at Man in Thunder Bay

Mississauga, ON (12 August, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) officers discharged Anti-Riot Weapon Enfields (ARWENs) yesterday at a 32-year-old man. 

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • At approximately 3:50 p.m. on August 11, 2022, TBPS officers were dispatched to a residence on Blucher Avenue to apprehend a man in connection with a police investigation. The man had barricaded himself in the home.
  • Officers set up a perimeter around the scene and attempted to negotiate with the man.
  • At approximately 9 p.m., the man exited the residence and multiple officers discharged their ARWENs at him. The man was struck. 
  • He was taken into custody and transported to hospital. 

At this time, it does not appear that the man suffered any serious injury as a result of the ARWEN deployments.

Two investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.  

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.

Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES