News Release

SIU Concludes Investigation into Brantford Shooting

Case Number: 10-OFD-178   

Other News Releases Related to Case 10-OFD-178

SIU Reopens Investigation into Brantford Fatal Shooting

Mississauga (14 January, 2011) --- The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ian Scott, has concluded that there are no reasonable grounds to charge an officer of the Brantford Police Service (BPS) with a criminal offence in regards to the death of a Brantford man in August of last year.

Six investigators and four forensic investigators from the SIU were assigned to investigate the circumstances of this occurrence.

The SIU investigation determined that on August 25, 2010, the subject officer was dispatched to Sympatica Crescent regarding a domestic dispute.  When the subject officer arrived, he saw 18-year-old Evan Jones on the front porch holding two large knives.  The subject officer drew his firearm and told Mr. Jones on multiple occasions to drop the knives.  Mr. Jones held the blades to his throat and demanded that the police kill him.  He went back into his house.  The subject officer learned that Mr. Jones’ sister and two-year-old niece were in the residence.  The subject officer entered the residence followed by another officer.  In the meantime, another witness officer entered the residence from a rear door. The subject officer saw Mr. Jones inside still holding the two knives and refusing to comply with demands to drop them.  Mr. Jones began advancing on two of the officers with the knives at his throat. The subject officer deployed his pepper spray but this had no effect on Mr. Jones.  Mr. Jones raised the knives and threw one of them at the two officers.  He then turned with a meat cleaver over his head in the direction where the subject officer reasonably thought another officer was situated.  At that point, the subject officer discharged multiple rounds at Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones was struck four times and died as a result of gunshot wounds.

Director Scott said, “The officers had the lawful authority to enter the premises under the exigent exception to obtaining an arrest warrant pursuant to s. 529.3 of the Criminal Code because of the presence of two family members.  In the moments leading up to the shooting, Mr. Jones had displayed signs of erratic behaviour and disregard for his personal safety.  He seemed to be goading the police into shooting himself. The subject officer tried a less lethal use of force option –pepper spray – to no avail. Immediately before the shooting, Mr. Jones threw a knife, and while armed with another knife, made a threatening gesture toward a place where the subject officer could reasonably conclude another officer was in imminent danger.  Based on this scenario, in my view, the officer was justified in the application of lethal force causing Mr. Jones’ death under s. 27 of the Code: he was using lethal force to prevent an imminent, potentially lethal, attack by Mr. Jones against another police officer.  Accordingly, no criminal liability may attach to the subject officer’s actions.”

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

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