SIU investigating discharge of anti-riot weapon in Barrie; death of man in Bobcaygeon

Ontario’s Special investigations UNIT (SIU) is investigating after a Barrie Police officer discharged an anti-riot weapon (ARWEN).

It happened as police negotiated with a man during an encounter Thursday morning with a 39-year-old man at a home on Innisfil Street.

Preliminary information suggests the following:

• At approximately 9:45 a.m. on November 25, 2021, Barrie Police Service officers went to a residence on Innisfil Street in Barrie in response to a 911 call for a person in crisis. 
• Officers attempted to negotiate with the man.
• There was an interaction, and police discharged an ARWEN and a Conducted Energy Weapon at the man.
• He was taken to hospital for assessment.

The SIU is also investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man after an Ontario Provincial Police officer discharged his firearm near a residence north of Bobcaygeon.

Preliminary information suggests the following:

• At approximately 10:05 a.m. on November 25, 2021, an officer with the City of Kawartha Lakes detachment went to a rural residence near Highway 49 and Highway 37 for an ongoing investigation.
• The man had a firearm. There was an interaction and the officer discharged his firearm before retreating.
• Additional officers arrived at the scene and located the man. Paramedics pronounced the man deceased at the scene.

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