News Release
SIU Investigation in St. Catharines Started Following Police Interaction at a Variety Store
Case Number: 16-OCI-295
Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit has started an investigation into an interaction between Niagara Regional Police Service officers and an 18-year-old man at a variety store in St. Catharines.
Preliminary information indicates the following:
- Shortly after 5:30 p.m., Niagara Police received a call about an incident at variety store at the corner of Arthur Street and Northglen Avenue.
- Officers arrived and a conducted energy weapon was discharged.
- An 18-year-old man was rushed to hospital and is listed in serious condition.
- A 77-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were also transported to hospital with minor injuries.
Four investigators and two forensic investigators have been assigned to investigate this incident.
The SIU is appealing for witnesses and is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.
If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.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