The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been called in after Barrie police officers used an anti-riot weapon in response to a 911 call Thursday morning (Nov. 25).
The province's SIU reported the anti-riot weapon Enfield, known as an ARWEN, was used against a 39-year-old man on Innisfil Street in Barrie.
The ARWEN uses 'less lethal' rounds of ammunition, but otherwise functions in the same way as a firearm.
According to a news release from the SIU issued Thursday night, Barrie police responded to a 911 call on Innisfil Street for a person in crisis at about 9:45 a.m. Officers attempted to negotiate, and the interaction resulted in an ARWEN discharge, and police also used a conducted energy weapon — commonly known as a Taser.
The man was taken to hospital for assessment.
"It is not known at this time if the man sustained any serious injury; however, the SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged an ARWEN, which is classified as a firearm," according to the SIU. "Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barrelled 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 Special Investigations Unit 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
