News Release

SIU Investigating Police Officer Who Shot Man with ARWEN in Sudbury

Case Number: 22-OFP-096   

Mississauga, ON (1 April, 2022) ---
The province’s Special Investigations Unit is investigating after a Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) officer shot a 43-year-old man with an Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield (ARWEN) yesterday.

Preliminary information suggests the following:
  • On March 30, 2022, GSPS officers responded to an apartment unit on 2nd Avenue North in relation to a domestic dispute. A person of interest – the 43-year-old man – was no longer at the residence when officers arrived.
  • At approximately 3:45 p.m. on March 31, 2022, officers learned that the man was at an apartment on Grenadier Drive. 
  • Upon arriving at the ground-floor apartment unit, officers instructed the man to come out of the residence, but he refused to do so.
  • At approximately 7:30 p.m., officers observed the man through a window holding a hatchet in his hand. 
  • One of the officers deployed his ARWEN at the man twice.
  • The man was taken into custody and transported to the police station.  

Three investigators and one forensic investigator have been assigned to the case.

While the man does not appear to have been seriously injured, the SIU’s mandate has been 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 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

Lisez ce communiqué en français.

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